🔗 Share this article

Amateur players are being offered the possibility to win a seven-figure prize when they face world-class athletes - headed by top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle prior to January's Australian Open

Tournament officials of the Melbourne major have revealed the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will pair 10 amateur players against top-ranked players in a knockout tournament at the tournament grounds

How the Tournament Functions

Players will play 'the classic hand game' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and whoever wins the point will move forward to the next round

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

Contextually, players who made it to the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the 2025 Australian Open won substantial prize money

Previous Comparable Tournaments

The American Grand Slam organized a restructured, independent mixed doubles tournament in August which prompted top singles players to compete, with the victors receiving a million-dollar prize

The Melbourne tournament held its debut One Point Slam this year, but the cash prize was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it received minimal attention

Andrey Rublev was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his run came to an end when he directed the sole serving chance permitted into the net in his last eight match

Event Specifics

Planners have not detailed exactly how the event will operate, but it is anticipated to emulate a akin setup to the previous version

The professionals will be granted to serve once and the amateurs two times - as is the norm in standard play

While it is not certain how the pairings will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will take place in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing

Participation Requirements

Any Australians - or foreign participants who have registered with the national federation - can enter 'One Point Slam' competitions at their neighborhood facilities

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every state and territory chosen to compete in the 'championship round' in a night session on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in the final month which non-professionals, aspiring competitors, celebrities and sport stars can enter

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

"No matter your experience, the final champion will claim the award. Entries will begin shortly at clubs across the country"

Event organizers mentioned there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the tournament site said "famous personalities" would be involved