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Recreational competitors are being offered the chance to win a seven-figure prize when they compete against world-class athletes - headed by top-ranked the Spanish champion - in a winner-takes-all point leading up to January's Australian Open

Organizers of the Melbourne major have announced the Seven-Figure Quick-Fire Competition, which will pair a dozen non-professionals against 22 professionals in a elimination competition at the Australian Open venue

This Innovative Tournament Functions

Competitors are set to play 'rock, paper, scissors' to establish who serves or receives, and the competitor securing the point will progress to the next round

The champion of the event will receive a significant cash prize

For comparison, players who reached the semi-finals of the main draw competitions in the previous year's tournament won A$1.1m

Previous Related Competitions

The US Open staged a redesigned, independent combined gender tournament in the eighth month which prompted top singles players to take part, with the winners receiving one million US dollars

The year's first major held its inaugural quick-fire event this year, but the total purse was a smaller amount and it had limited exposure

One top competitor was the only top-10 player involved, and his run finished when he sent the sole serving chance granted failing to clear the net in his quarter-final

Competition Information

Planners have not said exactly how the event will operate, but it is projected to emulate a akin setup to the most recent iteration

The professionals will be allowed to have a single serve and the everyday players on two occasions - as is the norm in standard play

While it is not certain how the pairings will work, there will be multiple elimination stages and the location will be the primary court rather than the secondary venue

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

Entry Information

Any Australians - or international players who have signed up with the governing body - can participate in 'quick-match event' events at their neighborhood facilities

The champions of the community events will then go into a draw, with one amateur player from every region and area chosen to take part in the 'grand finale' in a nighttime event on Wednesday, 14 January

There will also be a qualifying draw in late year which everyday players, aspiring competitors, well-known figures and sports personalities can participate in

It begins on early January and the two winners will go into the following day's 'final showdown' with the remaining non-professionals and top-ranked athletes

"No matter your experience, the overall victor will walk away with the award. Entries will begin shortly at venues nationwide"

Competition planners stated there were "more big names to be revealed shortly", while the official website mentioned "famous personalities" would be taking part