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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are getting the chance to earn A$1m when they compete against elite players - featuring top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point prior to the year's first major

Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at Melbourne Park

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'the decision-making game' to decide who takes the serve or return position, and the player who wins the point will progress to the next round

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

For comparison, players who reached the semi-finals of the men's or women's singles in the 2025 Australian Open won substantial prize money

Earlier Similar Events

The American Grand Slam staged a restructured, separate mixed doubles tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its debut single-point competition this year, but the prize fund was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the sole elite competitor competing, and his run concluded when he sent the sole serving chance granted failing to clear the net in his last eight match

Event Information

Planners have not detailed exactly how the event will work, but it is anticipated to mirror a comparable structure to this year's edition

The top competitors will be granted to make one service and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the norm in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the secondary venue

The last matches will be held in a nighttime schedule instead of 1pm local time

Participation Details

Local players - or foreign participants who have enrolled with the national federation - can participate in 'single-point competition' tournaments at their local tennis clubs

The victors of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with a single non-professional from every state and territory picked to participate in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on the specified date

There will also be a qualifying draw in the final month which amateurs, developing professionals, celebrities and sport stars can participate in

It begins on early January and the successful competitors will go into the following day's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and 10 professionals

"No matter your experience, the final champion will walk away with the reward. Applications will open soon at clubs throughout the nation"

Event organizers said there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the tournament site indicated "well-known figures" would be taking part