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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered the possibility to win one million Australian dollars when they take on world-class athletes - headed by leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to the year's first major

Organizers of the Australian Open have unveiled the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pit everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at Melbourne Park

The Unique Event Will Work

Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to decide who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will progress to the next round

The winner of the event will earn approximately half a million pounds

Contextually, players who reached the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the last edition won A$1.1m

Previous Similar Events

The New York major staged a redesigned, independent combined gender tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving a million-dollar prize

The Melbourne tournament held its inaugural quick-fire event in the current season, but the cash prize was A$60,000 and it received minimal attention

The Russian player was the only top-10 player participating, and his run came to an end when he put the one and only serve granted into the net in his last eight match

Event Specifics

Planners have not said exactly how the event will work, but it is expected to emulate a similar format to the most recent iteration

The elite players will be permitted to make one service and the everyday players two times - as is the standard practice in standard play

While it is uncertain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the primary court rather than the smaller Kia Arena

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

Entry Information

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have signed up with the governing body - can participate in 'quick-match event' events at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a random pairing, with an everyday competitor from every region and area chosen to compete in the 'championship round' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a entry tournament in late year which amateurs, lower ranked pros, celebrities and athletic celebrities can enter

It starts on the starting date and the successful competitors will advance to the midweek 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and elite competitors

"No matter your experience, the final champion will claim the reward. Entries will begin shortly at venues nationwide"

Event organizers said there were "further celebrities to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal said "celebrities" would be involved