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Recreational competitors are getting an opportunity to claim a seven-figure prize when they face world-class athletes - headed by top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point prior to the Australian Grand Slam

Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam have unveiled the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will pair a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at the tournament grounds

The Unique Competition Operates

Participants must play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who takes the serve or return position, and the competitor securing the point will progress to the subsequent phase

The victor of the event will earn £490,000

By comparison, players who made it to the penultimate round of the main draw competitions in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars

Past Comparable Tournaments

The New York major hosted a revamped, separate mixed doubles tournament in the eighth month which prompted top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving a million-dollar prize

The year's first major held its debut quick-fire event this year, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the only top-10 player competing, and his campaign came to an end when he put the one and only serve permitted into the mesh in his penultimate round

Competition Information

Organizers have not specified precisely how the event will work, but it is projected to mirror a akin setup to the previous version

The professionals will be granted to make one service and the non-professionals twice - as is the standard practice in traditional tennis

While it is unclear how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the main stadium rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The concluding rounds will be held in a nighttime schedule instead of midday timing

Competitor Details

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have signed up with Tennis Australia - can participate in 'One Point Slam' tournaments at their local tennis clubs

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a selection process, with one amateur player from every state and territory selected to participate in the 'final competition' in a night session on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a preliminary competition in December which everyday players, developing professionals, well-known figures and sport stars can compete in

It starts on the starting date and the two winners will go into Wednesday's 'championship match' with the remaining non-professionals and top-ranked athletes

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

Competition planners stated there were "additional stars to be revealed shortly", while the event portal indicated "celebrities" would be taking part