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Recreational competitors are getting an opportunity to claim A$1m when they compete against world-class athletes - featuring top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to the Australian Grand Slam

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

The Unique Competition Operates

Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to determine who serves or receives, and the competitor securing the point will advance to the following stage

The victor of the event will take home a significant cash prize

Contextually, players who made it to the final four of the men's or women's singles in the last edition won A$1.1m

Past Similar Events

The US Open staged a redesigned, independent combined gender tournament in late summer which prompted top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The Australian Open held its first-ever single-point competition in the current season, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure

The Russian player was the only top-10 player competing, and his progress came to an end when he sent the single service opportunity allowed failing to clear the net in his quarter-final

Tournament Specifics

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

The elite players will be granted to serve once and the everyday players two times - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain 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 last matches will take place in a evening slot instead of midday timing

Participation Details

Local players - or foreign participants who have enrolled with the governing body - can compete in 'single-point competition' tournaments at their neighborhood facilities

The champions of the local competitions will then go into a selection process, with a single non-professional from every region and area selected to compete in the 'final competition' in a night session on mid-January

There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which amateurs, developing professionals, well-known figures and sport stars can participate in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will go into the following day's 'grand finale' with the remaining non-professionals and elite competitors

"No matter your experience, the final champion will walk away with the award. Entries will start imminently at facilities nationwide"

Tournament officials said there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the event portal said "famous personalities" would be taking part