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Amateur players are getting the chance to win A$1m when they take on elite players - headed by world number one the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown before the Australian Grand Slam

Event planners of the Australian Open have revealed the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will pit everyday competitors against elite athletes in a single-elimination format at Melbourne Park

The Unique Event Will Work

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and whoever wins the point will progress to the next round

The victor of the event will take home £490,000

For comparison, players who advanced to the final four of the primary tournaments in the 2025 Australian Open won A$1.1m

Previous Comparable Tournaments

The US Open staged a redesigned, separate combined gender tournament in the eighth month which motivated top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving $1m

The year's first major held its first-ever quick-fire event in the current season, but the prize fund was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it had limited exposure

The Russian player was the only top-10 player involved, and his campaign concluded when he directed the sole serving chance allowed into the mesh in his last eight match

Event Information

Officials have not detailed exactly how the event will function, but it is anticipated to follow a comparable structure to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be permitted to make one service and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the standard practice in standard play

While it is unclear how the draw will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

The last matches will be held in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Entry Requirements

Local players - or overseas competitors who have signed up with Tennis Australia - can compete in 'One Point Slam' competitions at their neighborhood facilities

The winners of the community events will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every region and area picked to compete in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a preliminary competition in late year which amateurs, aspiring competitors, well-known figures and sports personalities can enter

It starts on the starting date and the successful competitors will advance to Wednesday's 'championship match' with the additional everyday players and top-ranked athletes

"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will receive the reward. Entries will start imminently at venues across the country"

Competition planners mentioned there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the event portal said "celebrities" would be involved