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Recreational competitors will have an opportunity to earn a seven-figure prize when they face tennis' top professionals - headed by top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle leading up to January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Australian Open have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit a dozen non-professionals against top-ranked players in a knockout tournament at Melbourne Park

This Innovative Tournament Functions

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

The victor of the event will receive £490,000

Contextually, players who reached the semi-finals of the main draw competitions in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m

Earlier Related Competitions

The American Grand Slam organized a revamped, independent mixed doubles tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to compete, with the champions receiving a million-dollar prize

The Australian Open held its debut single-point competition earlier this year, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it generated little publicity

One top competitor was the sole elite competitor competing, and his campaign concluded when he sent the single service opportunity granted into the mesh in his penultimate round

Tournament Information

Officials have not specified precisely how the event will function, but it is projected to emulate a akin setup to the previous version

The professionals will be allowed to have a single serve and the amateurs twice - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the draw will work, there will be several competitive phases and the site will be the main stadium rather than the alternative court

The last matches will be held in a night session instead of early afternoon

Competitor Information

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have enrolled with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'One Point Slam' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The champions of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every region and area picked to take part in the 'final competition' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a entry tournament in late year which amateurs, developing professionals, celebrities and athletic celebrities can enter

It commences on early January and the successful competitors will qualify for the midweek 'championship match' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will receive the reward. Applications will open soon at venues across the country"

Tournament officials mentioned there were "more big names to be revealed shortly", while the event portal indicated "famous personalities" would be participating