Carlos Alcaraz Set to Compete Against Everyday Players in Seven-Figure Single-Point Showdown

Amateur players will have the chance to claim a seven-figure prize when they take on elite players - headed by world number one the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown prior to January's Australian Open

Tournament officials of the Melbourne major have unveiled the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will match everyday competitors against top-ranked players in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue

How the Tournament Functions

Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to establish who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the following stage

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

Contextually, players who advanced to the final four of the men's or women's singles in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars

Previous Related Competitions

The New York major organized a revamped, independent combined gender tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving one million US dollars

The Australian Open held its debut One Point Slam in the current season, but the prize fund was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it received minimal attention

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor involved, and his run finished when he directed the single service opportunity granted into the mesh in his last eight match

Competition Details

Organizers have not detailed exactly how the event will function, but it is anticipated to follow a comparable structure to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be granted to serve once and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is unclear how the draw will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the site will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The concluding rounds will be held in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Participation Requirements

Local players - or foreign participants who have signed up with the national federation - can enter 'single-point competition' tournaments at their community centers

The winners of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every geographic division picked to compete in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which amateurs, aspiring competitors, celebrities and sport stars can compete in

It begins on the starting date and the successful competitors will qualify for Wednesday's 'grand finale' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the ultimate winner will receive the award. Registrations will open soon at facilities nationwide"

Tournament officials mentioned there were "additional stars to be revealed shortly", while the event portal indicated "celebrities" would be involved