🔗 Share this article

Everyday tennis enthusiasts are being offered an opportunity to earn A$1m when they compete against tennis' top professionals - headed by top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point before the year's first major

Event planners of the Melbourne major have announced the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will pit everyday competitors against elite athletes in a knockout tournament at the tournament grounds

How the Competition Operates

Players will play 'the classic hand game' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and the player who wins the point will move forward to the following stage

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

For comparison, players who made it to the penultimate round of the men's or women's singles in the previous year's tournament won substantial prize money

Previous Related Competitions

The New York major hosted a redesigned, separate mixed doubles tournament in late summer which motivated top singles players to participate, with the winners receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its first-ever quick-fire event in the current season, but the cash prize was sixty thousand Australian dollars and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete involved, and his campaign concluded when he directed the single service opportunity granted failing to clear the net in his penultimate round

Competition Details

Planners have not said exactly how the event will work, but it is anticipated to follow a comparable structure to this year's edition

The professionals will be allowed to serve once and the amateurs twice - as is the standard practice in standard play

While it is unclear how the draw will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the venue will be the main stadium rather than the secondary venue

The final stages will be held in a evening slot instead of early afternoon

Participation Information

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have registered with the governing body - can compete in 'single-point competition' tournaments at their community centers

The champions of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with an everyday competitor from every geographic division chosen to take part in the 'final competition' in a night session on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in the final month which amateurs, developing professionals, well-known figures and athletic celebrities can participate in

It commences on the starting date and the pair of champions will go into the midweek 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and top-ranked athletes

"Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the final champion will walk away with the reward. Entries will begin shortly at clubs nationwide"

Event organizers stated there were "more big names to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal mentioned "celebrities" would be taking part