Alcaraz Set to Compete Against Amateurs in Seven-Figure Single-Point Showdown

Amateur players are being offered the possibility to earn A$1m when they face world-class athletes - featuring leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point prior to the year's first major

Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will match 10 amateur players against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue

How the Competition Operates

Participants must play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will progress to the subsequent phase

The champion of the event will take home £490,000

By comparison, players who reached the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the 2025 Australian Open won A$1.1m

Previous Similar Events

The New York major hosted a restructured, separate combined gender tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving $1m

The year's first major held its debut quick-fire event in the current season, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete participating, and his run concluded when he sent the sole serving chance granted into the net in his last eight match

Tournament Specifics

Planners have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is projected to mirror a akin setup to this year's edition

The elite players will be granted to serve once and the non-professionals two times - as is the standard practice in standard play

While it is uncertain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the venue will be the main stadium rather than the smaller Kia Arena

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 the national federation - can enter 'One Point Slam' events at their community centers

The victors of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every geographic division chosen to compete in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in late year which non-professionals, aspiring competitors, well-known figures and sports personalities can participate in

It begins on early January and the two winners will qualify for the following day's 'final showdown' with the additional everyday players and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the overall victor will receive the prize. Applications will start imminently at clubs across the country"

Competition planners said there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal indicated "famous personalities" would be involved