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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are getting the possibility to claim a seven-figure prize when they compete against tennis' top professionals - headed by top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a single-point showdown leading up to January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Australian Open have announced the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will pit a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals in a knockout tournament at the Australian Open venue

How the Event Will Work

Participants must play 'the classic hand game' to establish who serves or receives, and whoever wins the point will progress to the following stage

The victor of the event will take home £490,000

For comparison, players who reached the semi-finals of the primary tournaments in the previous year's tournament won substantial prize money

Previous Related Competitions

The American Grand Slam staged a restructured, independent mixed doubles tournament in August which encouraged top singles players to compete, with the victors receiving $1m

The Melbourne tournament held its first-ever single-point competition in the current season, but the cash prize was a smaller amount and it generated little publicity

One top competitor was the single high-ranked athlete involved, and his campaign came to an end when he directed the single service opportunity permitted into the mesh in his quarter-final

Event Specifics

Organizers have not specified precisely how the event will work, but it is anticipated to follow a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be permitted to make one service and the amateurs on two occasions - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is unclear how the bracket will work, there will be several competitive phases and the site will be the main stadium rather than the secondary venue

The last matches will be held in a night session instead of 1pm local time

Participation Details

Local players - or overseas competitors who have signed up with Tennis Australia - can enter 'quick-match event' tournaments at their local tennis clubs

The victors of the community events will then go into a random pairing, with a single non-professional from every geographic division picked to compete in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in the final month which everyday players, developing professionals, famous personalities and athletic celebrities can participate in

It commences on early January and the pair of champions will advance to Wednesday's 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"No matter your experience, the overall victor will claim the reward. Registrations will open soon at venues nationwide"

Event organizers said there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the event portal said "famous personalities" would be involved