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Recreational competitors are getting the possibility to win A$1m when they face tennis' top professionals - including top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown leading up to the year's first major

Event planners of the year's first Grand Slam have announced the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will pair 10 amateur players against elite athletes in a elimination competition at the tournament grounds

The Unique Competition Operates

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to decide who serves or receives, and the player who wins the point will progress to the next round

The victor of the event will earn a significant cash prize

By comparison, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the main draw competitions in the 2025 Australian Open won over a million Australian dollars

Past Related Competitions

The American Grand Slam organized a redesigned, independent mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which motivated top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its first-ever single-point competition earlier this year, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it received minimal attention

Andrey Rublev was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his progress came to an end when he sent the one and only serve allowed into the net in his quarter-final

Competition Specifics

Officials have not said exactly how the event will function, but it is expected to follow a similar format to this year's edition

The elite players will be allowed to serve once and the non-professionals two times - as is the standard practice in conventional tennis

While it is unclear how the draw will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will be held in a night session instead of early afternoon

Participation Requirements

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have registered with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'single-point competition' tournaments at their community centers

The champions of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every state and territory picked to participate in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which amateurs, developing professionals, well-known figures and sport stars can compete in

It starts on early January and the two winners will go into the following day's 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and 10 professionals

"Regardless of your skill level, the overall victor will walk away with the prize. Entries will begin shortly at facilities throughout the nation"

Competition planners mentioned there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the official website indicated "famous personalities" would be taking part