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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered an opportunity to win A$1m when they take on elite players - headed by top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown leading up to the Australian Grand Slam

Tournament officials of the Australian Open have unveiled the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will pair 10 amateur players against top-ranked players in a single-elimination format at the tournament grounds

This Innovative Competition Operates

Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will progress to the next round

The champion of the event will receive a significant cash prize

By comparison, players who made it to the final four of the primary tournaments in the last edition won substantial prize money

Previous Similar Events

The US Open hosted a restructured, standalone combined gender tournament in August which prompted top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving a million-dollar prize

The Australian Open held its inaugural quick-fire event this year, but the prize fund was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it generated little publicity

The Russian player was the single high-ranked athlete involved, and his run concluded when he put the single service opportunity allowed failing to clear the net in his quarter-final

Competition Specifics

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

The top competitors will be allowed to serve once and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis

While it is unclear how the bracket will work, there will be several competitive phases and the site will be the main stadium rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Entry Information

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have registered with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'One Point Slam' events at their local tennis clubs

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with a single non-professional from every region and area picked to compete in the 'grand finale' in a evening match on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which everyday players, developing professionals, celebrities and athletic celebrities can enter

It begins on early January and the successful competitors will go into the following day's 'final showdown' with the additional everyday players and elite competitors

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the final champion will receive the prize. Registrations will begin shortly at venues nationwide"

Competition planners stated there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the event portal said "famous personalities" would be participating