Alcaraz Set to Compete Against Everyday Players in Seven-Figure One Point Slam
Recreational competitors are being offered an opportunity to earn one million Australian dollars when they take on world-class athletes - featuring leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point before the Australian Grand Slam
Event planners of the Melbourne major have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pit 10 amateur players against top-ranked players in a single-elimination format at the tournament grounds
How the Event Will Work
Players will play 'the decision-making game' to establish who serves or receives, and the player who wins the point will advance to the next round
The champion of the event will receive a significant cash prize
Contextually, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the main draw competitions in the last edition won substantial prize money
Earlier Related Competitions
The New York major staged a restructured, independent mixed doubles tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving one million US dollars
The Australian Open held its debut single-point competition in the current season, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention
One top competitor was the sole elite competitor participating, and his campaign concluded when he sent the single service opportunity allowed failing to clear the net in his penultimate round
Event Specifics
Planners have not specified precisely how the event will work, but it is anticipated to follow a akin setup to the most recent iteration
The elite players will be granted to have a single serve and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis
While it is not certain how the draw will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the secondary venue
The concluding rounds will occur in a night session instead of early afternoon
Entry Details
Any Australians - or international players who have registered with the national federation - can enter 'single-point competition' competitions at their neighborhood facilities
The victors of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a random pairing, with a single non-professional from every state and territory chosen to compete in the 'final competition' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January
There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which non-professionals, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and sports personalities can participate in
It begins on early January and the pair of champions will advance to the midweek 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes
"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will claim the reward. Applications will start imminently at clubs nationwide"
Competition planners stated there were "more big names to be revealed shortly", while the tournament site mentioned "famous personalities" would be taking part