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Amateur players are being offered an opportunity to win a seven-figure prize when they compete against world-class athletes - including top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz - in a winner-takes-all point prior to the Australian Grand Slam

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

How the Competition Operates

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 following stage

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

Contextually, players who made it to the final four of the primary tournaments in the 2025 Australian Open won A$1.1m

Past Related Competitions

The New York major organized a revamped, standalone combined gender tournament in late summer which encouraged top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving $1m

The Australian Open held its first-ever One Point Slam this year, but the cash prize was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it received minimal attention

One top competitor was the sole elite competitor competing, and his progress came to an end when he put the sole serving chance permitted into the mesh in his penultimate round

Competition Specifics

Planners have not specified precisely how the event will work, but it is anticipated to emulate a similar format to the previous version

The professionals will be permitted to have a single serve and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the norm in traditional tennis

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

The concluding rounds will take place in a evening slot instead of midday timing

Competitor Information

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have registered with the national federation - can enter 'quick-match event' events at their community centers

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with a single non-professional from every geographic division selected to participate in the 'final competition' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a entry tournament in December which non-professionals, lower ranked pros, celebrities and sports personalities can participate in

It begins on early January and the two winners will go into the midweek 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes

"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will claim the prize. Registrations will start imminently at venues throughout the nation"

Competition planners stated there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the official website mentioned "well-known figures" would be taking part