Organizers of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year revealed on Tuesday the ‘Million Dollar One Point Slam,’ which will feature a competition between 10 amateur players and 22 professionals.
The event will be headlined by Spain‘s world number one, Carlos Alcaraz, with the champion set to win one million Australian dollars (£490,360).
For comparison, players who reached the semi-finals of the men’s or women’s singles at the 2025 Australian Open earned A$1.1 million (£539,500).
To decide who serves or receives, players will engage in a game of ‘rock, paper, scissors.’ The player who wins the point also wins the match and advances to the next round, culminating in a final at Rod Laver Arena.
This announcement follows the US Open’s initiative to host a revamped mixed doubles tournament in August, which attracted top singles players and offered a $1 million (£736,880) prize for the winners.
Earlier this year, the Australian Open held its first ‘One Point Slam’ event, which had a significantly lower prize pool of A$60,000 (£29,400).
In that tournament, Australian professional Omar Jasika triumphed over 16 amateurs—eight men and eight women—ranging in age from 15 to 72.
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In the inaugural event, a coin toss determined who served, rather than using ‘rock, paper, scissors.’
Professionals were allowed to serve only once, while amateurs could serve twice, as per traditional tennis rules.
For the 2026 tournament, eight amateurs will qualify through events held in each state and territory, with an additional two spots available during the opening week, starting Monday, January 12.
“I am excited to announce that world number one Carlos Alcaraz will lead the professional player lineup for the Million Dollar One Point Slam,” said Craig Tilley, tournament director of the Australian Open.
“Whether you are an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will take home the prize.
Entries will open soon at clubs nationwide, and during the opening week, finalists will have the chance to compete against the professionals on Rod Laver Arena.”
