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Recreational competitors are being offered the chance to claim one million Australian dollars when they compete against tennis' top professionals - including top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle leading up to the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have revealed the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will pair 10 amateur players against top-ranked players in a single-elimination format at the Australian Open venue

How the Event Will Work

Participants must play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the subsequent phase

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

For comparison, players who reached the semi-finals of the main draw competitions in the 2025 Australian Open won substantial prize money

Previous Related Competitions

The American Grand Slam staged a redesigned, independent mixed doubles tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to participate, with the victors receiving $1m

The Australian Open held its inaugural single-point competition earlier this year, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure

Andrey Rublev was the sole elite competitor competing, and his run came to an end when he sent the one and only serve permitted failing to clear the net in his penultimate round

Event Information

Planners have not specified precisely how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to mirror a similar format to this year's edition

The professionals will be permitted to have a single serve and the amateurs on two occasions - as is the norm in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the main stadium rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The last matches will take place in a evening slot instead of early afternoon

Competitor Information

Local players - or overseas competitors who have signed up with the national federation - can participate in 'single-point competition' tournaments at their local tennis clubs

The champions of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a random pairing, with a single non-professional from every region and area picked to compete in the 'championship round' in a evening match on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which everyday players, aspiring competitors, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can compete in

It commences on early January and the two winners will advance to Wednesday's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"No matter your experience, the final champion will walk away with the reward. Applications will open soon at facilities across the country"

Event organizers mentioned there were "more big names to be revealed shortly", while the official website said "well-known figures" would be participating