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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are getting an opportunity to claim a seven-figure prize when they face elite players - including world number one the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown leading up to the Australian Grand Slam

Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have unveiled the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pair everyday competitors against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

The Unique Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to establish who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the subsequent phase

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

By comparison, players who reached the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars

Past Related Competitions

The American Grand Slam staged a redesigned, independent mixed doubles tournament in August which motivated top singles players to participate, with the victors receiving one million US dollars

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

One top competitor was the only top-10 player participating, and his run finished when he directed the sole serving chance granted into the net in his quarter-final

Competition Information

Officials have not detailed exactly how the event will operate, but it is expected to mirror a akin setup to this year's edition

The elite players will be permitted to have a single serve and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the standard practice 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 primary court rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The last matches will be held in a night session instead of midday timing

Participation Details

Local players - or foreign participants who have signed up with the governing body - can compete in 'single-point competition' competitions at their neighborhood facilities

The winners of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with an everyday competitor from every geographic division selected to compete in the 'grand finale' in a night session on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in December which everyday players, developing professionals, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can participate in

It commences on the starting date and the two winners will advance to Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and 10 professionals

"No matter your experience, the final champion will walk away with the reward. Entries will begin shortly at venues across the country"

Competition planners stated there were "further celebrities to be unveiled imminently", while the official website indicated "well-known figures" would be taking part