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Amateur players will have an opportunity to earn one million Australian dollars when they face tennis' top professionals - featuring world number one the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point before January's Australian Open

Event planners of the Australian Open have revealed the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will match 10 amateur players against elite athletes in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

How the Tournament Functions

Players will play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and the player who wins the point will progress to the next round

The winner of the event will receive approximately half a million pounds

Contextually, players who reached the semi-finals of the men's or women's singles in the 2025 Australian Open won over a million Australian dollars

Previous Related Competitions

The American Grand Slam staged a restructured, independent combined gender tournament in the eighth month which motivated top singles players to take part, with the champions receiving $1m

The year's first major held its first-ever quick-fire event in the current season, but the total purse was A$60,000 and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the sole elite competitor competing, and his run concluded when he directed the single service opportunity allowed into the mesh in his last eight match

Competition Details

Planners have not detailed exactly how the event will operate, but it is projected to emulate a similar format to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be granted to have a single serve and the amateurs on two occasions - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is uncertain how the pairings will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the site will be the main stadium rather than the smaller Kia Arena

The final stages will occur in a night session instead of 1pm local time

Entry Requirements

Local players - or overseas competitors who have registered with Tennis Australia - can compete in 'single-point competition' 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 state and territory chosen to take part in the 'final competition' in a night session on the specified date

There will also be a qualifying draw in December which amateurs, developing professionals, famous personalities and sports personalities can participate in

It commences on Monday, 12 January and the two winners will advance to the midweek 'final showdown' with the other eight amateurs and elite competitors

"Regardless of your skill level, the ultimate winner will receive the prize. Registrations will start imminently at facilities throughout the nation"

Tournament officials stated there were "further celebrities to be announced soon", while the official website said "well-known figures" would be involved