Carlos Alcaraz to Face Amateurs in Seven-Figure Winner-Takes-All Event
Amateur players are getting the chance to win A$1m when they take on tennis' top professionals - headed by top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle before the Australian Grand Slam
Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pit 10 amateur players against elite athletes in a knockout tournament at Melbourne Park
This Innovative Event Will Work
Players will play 'the decision-making game' to determine who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will advance to the subsequent phase
The champion of the event will earn a significant cash prize
For comparison, players who reached the penultimate round of the primary tournaments in the 2025 Australian Open won A$1.1m
Previous Related Competitions
The US Open hosted a redesigned, separate combined gender tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to participate, with the winners receiving one million US dollars
The Australian Open held its first-ever One Point Slam in the current season, but the prize fund was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure
The Russian player was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his run concluded when he sent the one and only serve granted into the net in his last eight match
Tournament Specifics
Organizers have not said exactly how the event will work, but it is expected to mirror a comparable structure to this year's edition
The elite players will be granted to serve once and the everyday players two times - as is the usual procedure in standard play
While it is unclear how the pairings will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the main stadium rather than the secondary venue
The final stages will take place in a night session instead of midday timing
Competitor Requirements
Any Australians - or foreign participants who have enrolled with the governing body - can compete in 'quick-match event' competitions at their community centers
The victors of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor 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 December which non-professionals, aspiring competitors, well-known figures and sport stars can participate in
It commences on the starting date and the two winners will go into the midweek 'final showdown' with the remaining non-professionals and top-ranked athletes
"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will receive the award. Registrations will open soon at venues throughout the nation"
Event organizers stated there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the event portal mentioned "famous personalities" would be participating