Carlos Alcaraz Ready to Battle Non-Professionals in Million Dollar Winner-Takes-All Event
Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered the possibility to claim one million Australian dollars when they take on tennis' top professionals - headed by top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to the year's first major
Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have revealed the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will match a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals in a single-elimination format at the tournament grounds
This Innovative Tournament Functions
Players will play 'the decision-making game' to establish who takes the serve or return position, and whoever wins the point will advance to the following stage
The victor of the event will earn £490,000
By comparison, players who reached the penultimate round of the primary tournaments in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars
Earlier Comparable Tournaments
The US Open staged a revamped, independent mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving $1m
The year's first major held its debut quick-fire event this year, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure
The Russian player was the only top-10 player involved, and his progress finished when he put the single service opportunity granted failing to clear the net in his last eight match
Event Specifics
Planners have not specified precisely how the event will work, but it is anticipated to follow a akin setup to the previous version
The elite players will be granted to have a single serve and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the norm in traditional tennis
While it is uncertain how the draw will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the location will be the primary court rather than the alternative court
The final stages will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of 1pm local time
Entry Details
Local players - or foreign participants who have signed up with the national federation - can compete in 'One Point Slam' competitions at their local tennis clubs
The champions of the community events will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every state and territory chosen to participate in the 'final competition' in a evening match on mid-January
There will also be a qualifying draw in December which everyday players, lower ranked pros, famous personalities and sport stars can enter
It commences on the starting date and the successful competitors will advance to Wednesday's 'championship match' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes
"No matter your experience, the overall victor will walk away with the award. Applications will open soon at clubs nationwide"
Event organizers mentioned there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the event portal indicated "well-known figures" would be taking part