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Amateur players will have an opportunity to claim a seven-figure prize when they compete against world-class athletes - headed by leading player the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to the year's first major

Organizers of the Melbourne major have unveiled the $1 Million Single-Point Tournament, which will pair 10 amateur players against top-ranked players in a elimination competition at the tournament grounds

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to determine who serves or receives, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the next round

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

By comparison, players who made it to the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the 2025 Australian Open won over a million Australian dollars

Past Related Competitions

The New York major staged a revamped, standalone mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving a million-dollar prize

The year's first major held its inaugural single-point competition in the current season, but the prize fund was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor competing, and his campaign came to an end when he put the single service opportunity granted into the mesh in his last eight match

Tournament Specifics

Organizers have not detailed exactly how the event will work, but it is expected to mirror a similar format to the most recent iteration

The elite players will be granted to have a single serve and the non-professionals twice - as is the norm in traditional tennis

While it is unclear how the bracket will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the site will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the secondary venue

The final stages will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing

Participation Details

Domestic competitors - or overseas competitors who have enrolled with the national federation - can compete in 'quick-match event' competitions at their neighborhood facilities

The winners of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a selection process, with an everyday competitor from every region and area chosen to participate in the 'grand finale' in a night session on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in December which non-professionals, aspiring competitors, celebrities and sport stars can participate in

It begins on early January and the two winners will go into the following day's 'grand finale' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"No matter your experience, the overall victor will claim the reward. Applications will open soon at venues across the country"

Event organizers said there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal said "famous personalities" would be taking part