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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are getting an opportunity to claim a seven-figure prize when they take on elite players - featuring top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown prior to the Australian Grand Slam

Event planners of the Australian Open have unveiled the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will match a dozen non-professionals against top-ranked players in a knockout tournament at Melbourne Park

How the Tournament Functions

Competitors are set to play 'the decision-making game' to decide who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will move forward to the next round

The victor of the event will earn approximately half a million pounds

For comparison, players who made it to the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the 2025 Australian Open won over a million Australian dollars

Past Similar Events

The American Grand Slam hosted a redesigned, standalone mixed doubles tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to compete, with the victors receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its inaugural One Point Slam earlier this year, but the cash prize was A$60,000 and it generated little publicity

The Russian player was the sole elite competitor involved, and his run finished when he directed the sole serving chance allowed into the mesh in his last eight match

Event Specifics

Organizers have not detailed exactly how the event will function, but it is projected to follow a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The elite players will be allowed to serve once and the amateurs two times - as is the standard practice in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain how the draw will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the site will be the main stadium rather than the smaller Kia Arena

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

Participation Requirements

Any Australians - or international players who have signed up with the governing body - can enter 'quick-match event' tournaments at their community centers

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a random pairing, with one amateur player from every geographic division selected to take part in the 'final competition' in a night session on mid-January

There will also be a preliminary competition in December which amateurs, aspiring competitors, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can enter

It begins on Monday, 12 January and the pair of champions will go into Wednesday's 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will claim the award. Applications will start imminently at clubs nationwide"

Tournament officials stated there were "further celebrities to be revealed shortly", while the tournament site said "well-known figures" would be taking part