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Everyday tennis enthusiasts will have the possibility to earn A$1m when they take on elite players - featuring world number one the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle before January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Melbourne major have unveiled the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will pair a dozen non-professionals against top-ranked players in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Event Will Work

Players will play 'the decision-making game' to decide who takes the serve or return position, and the player who wins the point will progress to the following stage

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

By comparison, players who reached the semi-finals of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m

Past Related Competitions

The New York major organized a restructured, separate combined gender tournament in August which prompted top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving a million-dollar prize

The Melbourne tournament held its first-ever One Point Slam earlier this year, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it received minimal attention

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor participating, and his campaign finished when he put the single service opportunity allowed into the net in his last eight match

Competition Specifics

Officials have not specified precisely how the event will function, but it is projected to emulate a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The elite players will be allowed to serve once and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the norm in conventional tennis

While it is unclear how the pairings will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the secondary venue

The concluding rounds will occur in a evening slot instead of midday timing

Participation Requirements

Local players - or overseas competitors who have registered with the national federation - can compete in 'One Point Slam' competitions at their local tennis clubs

The victors of the community events will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every region and area chosen to participate in the 'final competition' in a evening match on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a qualifying draw in December which amateurs, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can participate in

It begins on the starting date and the successful competitors will qualify for the midweek 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will receive the reward. Entries will start imminently at facilities nationwide"

Tournament officials said there were "more big names to be announced soon", while the event portal indicated "well-known figures" would be participating