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Recreational competitors will have an opportunity to earn a seven-figure prize when they compete against tennis' top professionals - including top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown before the year's first major

Organizers of the Australian Open have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pit a dozen non-professionals against elite athletes in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'the decision-making game' to establish who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will progress to the next round

The victor of the event will take home a significant cash prize

Contextually, players who reached the final four of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m

Earlier Similar Events

The New York major organized a restructured, separate mixed doubles tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to compete, with the winners receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its debut single-point competition earlier this year, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete participating, and his campaign finished when he directed the sole serving chance permitted into the net in his penultimate round

Tournament Specifics

Planners have not specified precisely how the event will function, but it is anticipated to follow a akin setup to this year's edition

The professionals will be permitted to serve once and the amateurs on two occasions - as is the norm in traditional tennis

While it is uncertain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the venue will be the primary court rather than the secondary venue

The concluding rounds will be held in a evening slot instead of 1pm local time

Participation Requirements

Any Australians - or international players who have registered with the governing body - can participate in 'single-point competition' competitions at their community centers

The champions of the community events will then go into a selection process, with a single non-professional from every region and area chosen to take part in the 'championship round' in a night session on the specified date

There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which non-professionals, lower ranked pros, celebrities and sports personalities can enter

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will advance to the midweek 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the ultimate winner will receive the prize. Applications will open soon at venues across the country"

Tournament officials stated there were "more big names to be revealed shortly", while the event portal indicated "celebrities" would be participating