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Recreational competitors are getting an opportunity to win a seven-figure prize when they compete against tennis' top professionals - featuring world number one the Spanish champion - in a one-point battle leading up to the year's first major

Event planners of the Australian Open have revealed the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will pair a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at Melbourne Park

This Innovative Event Will Work

Competitors are set to play 'the decision-making game' to determine who gets to serve or return, and the competitor securing the point will progress to the following stage

The champion of the event will take home a significant cash prize

Contextually, players who reached the final four of the primary tournaments in the last edition won over a million Australian dollars

Past Related Competitions

The New York major hosted a revamped, standalone combined gender tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to participate, with the champions receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its first-ever One Point Slam in the current season, but the prize fund was A$60,000 and it received minimal attention

The Russian player was the only top-10 player competing, and his run concluded when he put the one and only serve granted failing to clear the net in his quarter-final

Competition Information

Officials have not detailed exactly how the event will function, but it is anticipated to mirror a comparable structure to the previous version

The top competitors will be permitted to have a single serve and the non-professionals twice - as is the norm in conventional tennis

While it is unclear how the pairings will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the location will be the primary court rather than the secondary venue

The final stages will occur in a evening slot instead of 1pm local time

Participation Requirements

Domestic competitors - or foreign participants who have registered with the governing body - can participate in 'quick-match event' competitions at their community centers

The winners of the local competitions will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every state and territory selected to take part in the 'final competition' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a qualifying draw in December which amateurs, lower ranked pros, well-known figures and sports personalities can enter

It begins on early January and the successful competitors will go into the midweek 'grand finale' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the final champion will receive the reward. Registrations will open soon at venues throughout the nation"

Tournament officials mentioned there were "more big names to be revealed shortly", while the event portal mentioned "celebrities" would be involved