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Recreational competitors are getting an opportunity to win A$1m when they face tennis' top professionals - headed by leading player the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle leading up to January's Australian Open

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

The Unique Competition Operates

Competitors are set to play 'the decision-making game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the following stage

The winner of the event will receive a significant cash prize

By comparison, players who advanced to the semi-finals of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won over a million Australian dollars

Earlier Comparable Tournaments

The US Open hosted a revamped, independent combined gender tournament in the eighth month which motivated top singles players to participate, with the winners receiving one million US dollars

The Melbourne tournament held its inaugural single-point competition in the current season, but the total purse was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete participating, and his campaign concluded when he sent the one and only serve permitted failing to clear the net in his penultimate round

Competition Details

Planners have not detailed exactly how the event will function, but it is expected to follow a similar format to the previous version

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

While it is not certain how the pairings will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the site will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

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

Competitor Requirements

Any Australians - or foreign participants who have signed up with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'single-point competition' competitions at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every region and area picked to compete in the 'championship round' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a preliminary competition in the final month which amateurs, developing professionals, celebrities and athletic celebrities can participate in

It starts on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will qualify for Wednesday's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and top-ranked athletes

"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will claim the award. Entries will start imminently at venues nationwide"

Tournament officials stated there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the event portal indicated "well-known figures" would be participating