Amateur tennis players will have the chance to win A$1m when they take on some of the sport’s biggest stars — including world number one Carlos Alcaraz — in a single-point contest ahead of January’s Australian Open.
Organisers of the first Grand Slam of the year have unveiled the Million Dollar One Point Slam, a knockout event at Melbourne Park featuring 10 amateurs and 22 professionals.
Each match will be decided by a single point, with players using rock, paper, scissors to determine who serves or receives.
Whoever wins the point advances to the next round, with the ultimate winner taking home £490,000 (A$1m).
For comparison, semi-finalists in the men’s and women’s singles draws at the 2025 Australian Open each earned A$1.1m (£540,000).
The new event follows the US Open’s successful $1m mixed doubles competition in August, which encouraged top singles players to take part.
This year’s inaugural One Point Slam offered a far smaller prize fund of A$60,000 (£29,400) and limited star power — with Andrey Rublev the only top-10 player involved.
The Russian was eliminated after missing his lone serve in the quarter-finals, as Australian pro Omar Jasika went on to win the title.
Tournament director Craig Tiley said: “Whether you’re an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will walk away with the prize. Entries will open soon at clubs across the country.”
Tiley added that “more big names” would be announced shortly, while organisers hinted that celebrities will also take part in the revamped event.
