What is the Million Dollar One Point Slam?

Amateur tennis players will have the opportunity to win one million Australian dollars (£490,000) in prize money when they face some of the world’s top stars in a single-point showdown before the Australian Open.

A total of 48 competitors will take part in Wednesday’s knockout tournament at Melbourne Park, including 24 top professionals.

Men’s world number one Carlos Alcaraz, defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner and women’s number two Iga Swiatek are among the names featuring.

Eight amateur winners of earlier state championship rounds played across Australia in 2025 will be involved, as well as eight players who qualify in Melbourne.

Another eight wildcards – including celebrities and invited personalities – make up the rest of the competition.

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Each match will consist of a single point.

A game of ‘rock, paper, scissors’ will decide who serves.

The winner of each point progresses, with the final played at the 14,800-capacity Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday.

Entries are still open for the event, but organisers have confirmed 15 of the professionals intending to compete.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka and defending women’s champion Madison Keys will not be playing, but five of the top 10 ranked women’s players will be.

Taiwanese singer Jay Chou will be among the celebrities picking up a racquet, while Australian comedian Adam Hills and Sinner’s coach Simone Vagnozzi were among the members of the public who attempted to qualify for the main event.

The entry list also includes eight amateur state champions, including a 35-year-old tennis coach from Tasmania, a rock-paper-scissors expert and a former Indian Davis Cup player.

Confirmed professional entrants:

The Australian Open held its inaugural One Point Slam event in 2025, but the prize fund was A$60,000 (£29,400) and it generated little publicity.

Russia’s Andrey Rublev was the only top-10 player involved, and his run came to an end when he put his one and only serve into the net in his quarter-final.

The competition was won by Australian professional Omar Jasika after 16 amateurs – eight men and eight women aged between 15 and 72 – were pitted against 16 professionals.

It is the latest attempt by tennis authorities to draw eyeballs to the sport after the 2025 US Open introduced a standalone mixed doubles championship before the main draw.

That event pitched together pairs such as Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper, and Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz, but was won by doubles specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.

Explaining the reasoning behind the unusual One Point Slam, tournament director Craig Tiley said: “Having stars like Iga Swiatek, Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff committed to play, alongside everyday Australians qualifying through state championships, captures exactly what this event is about, bringing people together through tennis in an exciting and inclusive way.”

This article is the latest from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team.