Alcaraz Set to Compete Against Everyday Players in Seven-Figure One Point Slam
Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered the possibility to win one million Australian dollars when they face world-class athletes - headed by world number one Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle prior to January's Australian Open
Event planners of the Australian Open have revealed the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pair 10 amateur players against top-ranked players in a single-elimination format at Melbourne Park
This Innovative Competition Operates
Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who gets to serve or return, and the player who wins the point will progress to the next round
The victor of the event will receive approximately half a million pounds
Contextually, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars
Previous Related Competitions
The American Grand Slam staged a restructured, standalone combined gender tournament in the eighth month which motivated top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving a million-dollar prize
The Australian Open held its inaugural quick-fire event in the current season, but the cash prize was A$60,000 and it received minimal attention
One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete participating, and his run came to an end when he directed the sole serving chance allowed into the mesh in his last eight match
Competition Details
Planners have not specified precisely how the event will function, but it is anticipated to mirror a akin setup to the most recent iteration
The professionals will be permitted to serve once and the everyday players two times - as is the standard practice in conventional tennis
While it is not certain how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the site will be the main stadium rather than the secondary venue
The last matches will occur in a night session instead of midday timing
Participation Details
Local players - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with the national federation - can enter 'single-point competition' tournaments at their community centers
The victors of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a selection process, with an everyday competitor from every region and area selected to compete in the 'grand finale' in a evening match on mid-January
There will also be a entry tournament in late year which non-professionals, developing professionals, celebrities and sports personalities can compete in
It commences on the starting date and the two winners will go into the following day's 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors
"No matter your experience, the overall victor will claim the prize. Applications will begin shortly at facilities nationwide"
Tournament officials said there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the tournament site indicated "famous personalities" would be participating
