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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered an opportunity to earn a seven-figure prize when they face world-class athletes - headed by world number one the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to the year's first major

Event planners of the Australian Open have revealed the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pit a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at Melbourne Park

The Unique Event Will Work

Players will play 'the decision-making game' to establish who takes the serve or return position, and the competitor securing the point will progress to the next round

The victor of the event will earn approximately half a million pounds

Contextually, players who made it to the penultimate round of the main draw competitions in the last edition won substantial prize money

Past Comparable Tournaments

The American Grand Slam hosted a revamped, independent mixed doubles tournament in August which motivated top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving a million-dollar prize

The Australian Open held its debut single-point competition this year, but the total purse was A$60,000 and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the sole elite competitor competing, and his campaign concluded when he put the single service opportunity permitted failing to clear the net in his last eight match

Competition Specifics

Officials have not said exactly how the event will function, but it is expected to follow a similar format to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be permitted to serve once and the non-professionals twice - as is the usual procedure in standard play

While it is not certain how the bracket will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the site will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

The final stages will occur in a nighttime schedule instead of 1pm local time

Participation Information

Any Australians - or international players who have signed up with the governing body - can compete in 'quick-match event' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The victors of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every state and territory picked to take part in the 'grand finale' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

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

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the two winners will qualify for Wednesday's 'final showdown' with the additional everyday players and top-ranked athletes

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the overall victor will claim the reward. Applications will open soon at venues throughout the nation"

Competition planners mentioned there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the official website indicated "celebrities" would be involved