AMATEUR players will have the chance to win a staggering million-dollar prize when they face top tennis professionals such as Carlos Alcaraz in a single-point showdown in Melbourne.
Australian Open bosses will stage the Million Dollar 1 Point Slam in January 2026 before the start of the next Slam.
The contest will pit ten amateur players against 22 professionals, which will include Spain’s world no.1 Alcaraz, the reigning French and US Open champion.
The winner of this new event – which will be structured in a knockout-style format – will bank one million Australian dollars.
This converts to £491,000 and is just below what the 2025 Australian Open singles semi-finalists received in prize money.
Players will play ‘rock, paper, scissors’ to determine who serves or receives and whoever wins the solitary point will advance to the next round – while the loser of that point is eliminated.
The final will be staged on the Rod Laver Arena – the main show court of Melbourne Park – in the days before the tennis major begins.
Entries for the tournament will open soon and there will be events held in “every state and territory” across Australia – with two final spots up for grabs during the Opening Week of the Australian Open.
This novel, headline-grabbing idea follows the US Open’s decision to stage the reimagined Mixed Doubles Championship in New York where leading singles players vied for a $1million top prize.
Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said: “I can reveal that world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz will headline the pro player line-up in the Million Dollar 1 Point Slam.
“A thrilling new initiative where one point could win you $1million.
“Whether you’re an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will walk away with the prize.
“Entries will open soon at clubs across the country, and during Opening Week, finalists will compete for a chance to face the pros on Rod Laver Arena.
“With more big names to be announced soon, you now have a million reasons to pick up a racquet and get ready for January.”
Italian Jannik Sinner and American Madison Keys are the reigning Australian Open champions.
The pair received $3,500,000 (£1.7million) for their victories Down Under earlier this year.
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