Carlos Alcaraz to Face Non-Professionals in Million Dollar Winner-Takes-All Event

Recreational competitors are being offered the chance to win a seven-figure prize when they compete against world-class athletes - including world number one the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown prior to the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the Melbourne major have revealed the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will match 10 amateur players against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at Melbourne Park

The Unique Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will progress to the subsequent phase

The victor of the event will take home a significant cash prize

By comparison, players who advanced to the final four of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won over a million Australian dollars

Previous Similar Events

The New York major staged a revamped, standalone mixed doubles tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to take part, with the victors receiving $1m

The Australian Open held its first-ever single-point competition this year, but the prize fund was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention

Andrey Rublev was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his progress finished when he sent the single service opportunity granted failing to clear the net in his quarter-final

Tournament Specifics

Organizers have not detailed exactly how the event will work, but it is expected to follow a similar format to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be allowed to make one service and the everyday players two times - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the pairings will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the secondary venue

The concluding rounds will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Competitor Information

Domestic competitors - or overseas competitors who have signed up with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'single-point competition' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The victors of the local competitions will then go into a selection process, with one amateur player from every region and area selected to take part in the 'final competition' in a evening match on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in the final month which non-professionals, lower ranked pros, celebrities and athletic celebrities can participate in

It begins on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will go into Wednesday's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will receive the reward. Entries will open soon at facilities nationwide"

Event organizers stated there were "more big names to be revealed shortly", while the tournament site said "famous personalities" would be taking part