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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are getting the chance to earn a seven-figure prize when they take on elite players - headed by leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to the year's first major

Organizers of the Melbourne major have unveiled the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will match everyday competitors against top-ranked players in a elimination competition at the tournament grounds

The Unique Competition Operates

Competitors are set to play 'the classic hand game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will progress to the following stage

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

For comparison, players who advanced to the semi-finals of the main draw competitions in the 2025 Australian Open won over a million Australian dollars

Earlier Comparable Tournaments

The US Open organized a redesigned, standalone combined gender tournament in August which motivated top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving $1m

The year's first major held its first-ever One Point Slam this year, but the total purse was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it had limited exposure

Andrey Rublev was the sole elite competitor involved, and his progress finished when he sent the single service opportunity allowed into the net in his last eight match

Tournament Specifics

Officials have not specified precisely how the event will work, but it is anticipated to follow a akin setup to this year's edition

The professionals will be granted to have a single serve and the non-professionals on two occasions - as is the usual procedure in traditional tennis

While it is uncertain how the pairings will work, there will be several competitive phases and the venue will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The last matches will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Competitor Requirements

Any Australians - or international players who have registered with the national federation - can compete in 'quick-match event' competitions at their local tennis clubs

The victors of the grassroots tournaments will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every geographic division selected to compete in the 'championship round' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in late year which everyday players, aspiring competitors, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can participate in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the successful competitors will go into Wednesday's 'championship match' with the remaining non-professionals and 10 professionals

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the overall victor will walk away with the award. Applications will start imminently at venues nationwide"

Event organizers stated there were "further celebrities to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal said "famous personalities" would be taking part