Carlos Alcaraz Set to Compete Against Non-Professionals in Million Dollar One Point Slam

Tennis Star World Number One
Carlos Alcaraz has become a six-time Grand Slam victor

Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered the chance to earn one million Australian dollars when they take on tennis' top professionals - including leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a single-point showdown leading up to the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the Melbourne major have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pair 10 amateur players against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at Melbourne Park

How the Event Will Work

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will advance to the following stage

The victor of the event will take home approximately half a million pounds

Contextually, players who made it to the final four of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won substantial prize money

Earlier Related Competitions

The American Grand Slam organized a revamped, standalone combined gender tournament in the eighth month which prompted top singles players to participate, with the winners receiving a million-dollar prize

The Australian Open held its first-ever quick-fire event earlier this year, but the total purse was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the only top-10 player participating, and his progress came to an end when he directed the single service opportunity allowed into the mesh in his penultimate round

Competition Information

Planners have not specified precisely how the event will work, but it is anticipated to emulate a akin setup to this year's edition

The top competitors will be allowed to have a single serve and the non-professionals two times - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain how the draw will work, there will be several competitive phases and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The concluding rounds will be held in a evening slot instead of early afternoon

Competitor Details

Domestic competitors - or international players who have enrolled with the governing body - can compete in 'quick-match event' events at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every geographic division picked to compete in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a qualifying draw in December which non-professionals, developing professionals, well-known figures and sports personalities can participate in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the two winners will go into the following day's 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the overall victor will receive the award. Applications will start imminently at clubs nationwide"

Tournament officials mentioned there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the event portal said "celebrities" would be taking part

Ryan Kelley
Ryan Kelley

Environmental journalist with a decade of experience covering climate science and policy, based in Berlin.