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Recreational competitors are getting the possibility to claim a seven-figure prize when they face world-class athletes - featuring top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown leading up to January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Melbourne major have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a single-elimination format at Melbourne Park

This Innovative Competition Operates

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to decide who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will advance to the subsequent phase

The winner of the event will earn £490,000

By comparison, players who made it to the semi-finals of the main draw competitions in the 2025 Australian Open won over a million Australian dollars

Previous Similar Events

The US Open hosted a restructured, independent combined gender tournament in August which prompted top singles players to compete, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The Australian Open held its inaugural single-point competition in the current season, but the cash prize was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it received minimal attention

The Russian player was the only top-10 player participating, and his campaign concluded when he sent the one and only serve permitted into the mesh in his penultimate round

Tournament Details

Organizers have not said exactly how the event will function, but it is projected to follow a akin setup to the previous version

The elite players will be allowed to make one service and the amateurs twice - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis

While it is uncertain how the draw will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the main stadium rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will take place in a evening slot instead of early afternoon

Entry Requirements

Local players - or foreign participants who have registered with the governing body - can compete in 'single-point competition' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a selection process, with a single non-professional from every state and territory selected to compete in the 'final competition' in a evening match on the specified date

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which everyday players, lower ranked pros, celebrities and sports personalities can compete in

It starts on early January and the two winners will advance to the midweek 'final showdown' with the additional everyday players and top-ranked athletes

"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will claim the reward. Entries will begin shortly at facilities across the country"

Competition planners stated there were "additional stars to be revealed shortly", while the official website said "famous personalities" would be taking part