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Everyday tennis enthusiasts are getting the chance to earn a seven-figure prize when they take on world-class athletes - headed by leading player Carlos Alcaraz - in a one-point battle leading up to the year's first major

Tournament officials of the Australian Open have revealed the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will pit a dozen non-professionals against top-ranked players in a knockout tournament at the tournament grounds

How the Competition Operates

Participants must play 'rock, paper, scissors' to determine who takes the serve or return position, and whoever wins the point will progress to the subsequent phase

The champion of the event will earn a significant cash prize

For comparison, players who advanced to the penultimate round of the main draw competitions in the last edition won A$1.1m

Previous Similar Events

The New York major staged a redesigned, independent combined gender tournament in the eighth month which encouraged top singles players to participate, with the victors receiving $1m

The year's first major held its inaugural quick-fire event this year, but the total purse was A$60,000 and it received minimal attention

The Russian player was the single high-ranked athlete competing, and his campaign finished when he directed the single service opportunity permitted failing to clear the net in his quarter-final

Tournament Details

Officials have not specified precisely how the event will function, but it is expected to emulate a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The elite players will be allowed to serve once and the non-professionals twice - as is the usual procedure in conventional tennis

While it is not certain how the bracket will work, there will be five knockout rounds and the site will be the Rod Laver Arena rather than the alternative court

The concluding rounds will occur in a nighttime schedule instead of early afternoon

Competitor Requirements

Local players - or foreign participants who have registered with Tennis Australia - can enter 'quick-match event' tournaments at their local tennis clubs

The winners of the community events will then go into a draw, with an everyday competitor from every geographic division picked to take part in the 'grand finale' in a nighttime event on mid-January

There will also be a entry tournament in late year which non-professionals, developing professionals, famous personalities and sports personalities can participate in

It starts on early January and the pair of champions will advance to the midweek 'final showdown' with the additional everyday players and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the ultimate winner will receive the reward. Registrations will begin shortly at clubs throughout the nation"

Tournament officials said there were "additional stars to be unveiled imminently", while the tournament site mentioned "well-known figures" would be taking part