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.
Amatuer players will get the chance to take on the likes of Carlos Alcaraz in the new pre-tournament[/caption]
Italian Jannik Sinner is the current Australian open champion[/caption]
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.
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“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.
