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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered an opportunity to earn a seven-figure prize when they face world-class athletes - headed by world number one the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point prior to the year's first major

Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit everyday competitors against elite athletes in a single-elimination format at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Competition Operates

Players will play 'the classic hand game' to establish who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the next round

The victor of the event will receive approximately half a million pounds

For comparison, players who made it to the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars

Earlier Related Competitions

The American Grand Slam hosted a redesigned, separate combined gender tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving $1m

The Australian Open held its first-ever single-point competition this year, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor competing, and his campaign concluded when he put the one and only serve granted failing to clear the net in his last eight match

Event Information

Planners have not specified precisely how the event will operate, but it is projected to follow a similar format to this year's edition

The professionals will be allowed to have a single serve and the amateurs on two occasions - as is the norm in traditional tennis

While it is not certain how the draw will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the venue will be the main stadium rather than the secondary venue

The final stages will take place in a evening slot instead of midday timing

Entry Information

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have enrolled with the national federation - can enter 'quick-match event' events at their community centers

The champions of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with a single non-professional from every region and area chosen to take part in the 'grand finale' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which everyday players, developing professionals, famous personalities and sport stars can participate in

It starts on early January and the pair of champions will qualify for the midweek 'final showdown' with the additional everyday players and top-ranked athletes

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will receive the reward. Registrations will open soon at facilities throughout the nation"

Tournament officials stated there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the official website mentioned "celebrities" would be involved