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Amateur players will have an opportunity to win A$1m when they compete against elite players - including leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown prior to January's Australian Open

Organizers of the Melbourne major have revealed the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will match everyday competitors against top-ranked players in a elimination competition at Melbourne Park

This Innovative Competition Operates

Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and whoever wins the point will progress to the following stage

The winner of the event will take home a significant cash prize

By comparison, players who reached the semi-finals of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won over a million Australian dollars

Past Comparable Tournaments

The New York major organized a revamped, separate mixed doubles tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its debut quick-fire event in the current season, but the total purse was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it generated little publicity

One top competitor was the sole elite competitor competing, and his run came to an end when he sent the single service opportunity allowed into the mesh in his last eight match

Competition Information

Officials have not detailed exactly how the event will function, but it is expected to follow a comparable structure to the previous version

The professionals will be granted to make one service and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is unclear how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the main stadium rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The concluding rounds will occur in a evening slot instead of 1pm local time

Participation Requirements

Local players - or foreign participants who have enrolled with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'single-point competition' competitions at their neighborhood facilities

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with a single non-professional from every state and territory selected to participate in the 'grand finale' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which everyday players, developing professionals, well-known figures and sport stars can compete in

It starts on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will advance to Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the additional everyday players and 10 professionals

"No matter your experience, the overall victor will walk away with the prize. Applications will open soon at clubs across the country"

Event organizers said there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the official website mentioned "famous personalities" would be participating