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Recreational competitors are getting the chance to earn one million Australian dollars when they compete against tennis' top professionals - headed by top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown leading up to the Australian Grand Slam

Tournament officials of the Australian Open have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match a dozen non-professionals against elite athletes in a elimination competition at Melbourne Park

The Unique Event Will Work

Players will play 'the decision-making game' to establish who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the next round

The champion of the event will take home £490,000

Contextually, players who made it to the penultimate round of the main draw competitions in the last edition won substantial prize money

Previous Comparable Tournaments

The US Open organized a revamped, separate mixed doubles tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to participate, with the victors receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its inaugural One Point Slam in the current season, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention

The Russian player was the only top-10 player involved, and his campaign concluded when he sent the sole serving chance permitted failing to clear the net in his penultimate round

Competition Details

Officials have not said exactly how the event will function, but it is projected to emulate a similar format to the previous version

The top competitors will be permitted to have a single serve and the everyday players twice - as is the norm in standard play

While it is unclear how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the venue will be the primary court rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will take place in a night session instead of midday timing

Participation Information

Any Australians - or international players who have registered with the governing body - can participate in 'quick-match event' competitions at their local tennis clubs

The winners of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every region and area chosen to compete in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a preliminary competition in the final month which non-professionals, lower ranked pros, famous personalities and sport stars can enter

It starts on early January and the two winners will qualify for the following day's 'championship match' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes

"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will walk away with the reward. Applications will start imminently at clubs nationwide"

Tournament officials mentioned there were "additional stars to be announced soon", while the tournament site mentioned "famous personalities" would be taking part