Carlos Alcaraz Set to Compete Against Amateurs in Million Dollar One Point Slam
Amateur players are being offered an opportunity to earn a seven-figure prize when they face world-class athletes - including leading player the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point before January's Australian Open
Organizers of the Melbourne major have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pit 10 amateur players against elite athletes in a knockout tournament at the tournament grounds
The Unique Competition Operates
Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and whoever wins the point will advance to the next round
The champion of the event will receive a significant cash prize
Contextually, players who made it to the final four of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won substantial prize money
Previous Similar Events
The US Open staged a revamped, separate combined gender tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving one million US dollars
The Australian Open held its first-ever 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 run concluded when he put the one and only serve permitted failing to clear the net in his quarter-final
Competition Specifics
Planners have not detailed exactly how the event will work, but it is expected to mirror a akin setup to the most recent iteration
The top competitors will be granted to make one service and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the usual procedure in standard play
While it is unclear how the draw 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 occur in a nighttime schedule instead of 1pm local time
Participation Requirements
Domestic competitors - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with the national federation - can compete in 'quick-match event' tournaments at their community centers
The victors of the local competitions will then go into a selection process, with a single non-professional from every state and territory picked to participate in the 'grand finale' in a nighttime event on the specified date
There will also be a preliminary competition in the final month which non-professionals, developing professionals, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can enter
It commences on the starting date and the two winners will qualify for Wednesday's 'championship match' with the remaining non-professionals and elite competitors
"No matter your experience, the final champion will walk away with the reward. Registrations will open soon at clubs across the country"
Event organizers stated there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the tournament site indicated "famous personalities" would be involved