Carlos Alcaraz to Face Everyday Players in Million Dollar Single-Point Showdown

Recreational competitors are getting the possibility to earn a seven-figure prize when they take on elite players - featuring leading player the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point before January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Melbourne major have announced the Million Dollar One Point Slam, which will match a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at Melbourne Park

How the Event Will Work

Participants must play 'the decision-making game' to decide who takes the serve or return position, and whoever wins the point will progress to the following stage

The champion of the event will take home approximately half a million pounds

Contextually, players who advanced to the final four of the main draw competitions in the 2025 Australian Open won over a million Australian dollars

Previous Similar Events

The US Open hosted a restructured, standalone mixed doubles tournament in August which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the victors receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its inaugural quick-fire event earlier this year, but the prize fund was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the only top-10 player participating, and his campaign came to an end when he sent the sole serving chance permitted into the net in his penultimate round

Event Information

Planners have not specified precisely how the event will function, but it is expected to mirror a similar format to the previous version

The elite players will be permitted to serve once and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the usual procedure in traditional tennis

While it is unclear how the draw will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the secondary venue

The final stages will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of 1pm local time

Competitor Requirements

Local players - or international players who have registered with Tennis Australia - can enter 'quick-match event' events at their community centers

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a random pairing, with a single non-professional from every state and territory selected to participate in the 'championship round' in a night session on mid-January

There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which amateurs, developing professionals, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can enter

It commences on the starting date and the successful competitors will go into the following day's 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will receive the reward. Entries will begin shortly at facilities across the country"

Event organizers said there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the event portal mentioned "famous personalities" would be involved