Alcaraz Set to Compete Against Everyday Players in Seven-Figure Winner-Takes-All Event
Recreational competitors are being offered the chance to claim A$1m when they face world-class athletes - featuring world number one the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown before January's Australian Open
Tournament officials of the Australian Open have unveiled the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will pit everyday competitors against elite athletes in a knockout tournament at the tournament grounds
This Innovative Event Will Work
Players will play 'the classic hand game' to decide who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the following stage
The victor of the event will receive approximately half a million pounds
Contextually, players who advanced to the final four of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m
Earlier Comparable Tournaments
The US Open organized a redesigned, independent combined gender tournament in August which prompted top singles players to participate, with the victors receiving $1m
The Melbourne tournament held its first-ever quick-fire event this year, but the total purse was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it had limited exposure
One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete participating, and his run finished when he put the sole serving chance granted into the net in his quarter-final
Tournament Information
Officials have not detailed exactly how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to mirror a akin setup to the most recent iteration
The elite players will be allowed to have a single serve and the amateurs two times - as is the standard practice in standard play
While it is unclear how the draw will work, there will be several competitive phases and the site will be the primary court rather than the alternative court
The last matches will be held in a night session instead of midday timing
Entry Requirements
Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have enrolled with the national federation - can compete in 'quick-match event' events at their neighborhood facilities
The victors of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a selection process, with an everyday competitor from every geographic division picked to take part in the 'final competition' in a evening match on the specified date
There will also be a qualifying draw in the final month which everyday players, aspiring competitors, celebrities and sports personalities can participate in
It begins on early January and the pair of champions will qualify for the midweek 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and 10 professionals
"No matter your experience, the final champion will walk away with the reward. Applications will open soon at facilities nationwide"
Competition planners stated there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the official website mentioned "famous personalities" would be taking part
