Grand Slam (tennis)
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In tennis, a singles player or doubles team is said to have achieved the True Grand Slam if they succeed in winning all four of the following championship titles in the same calendar year or just "Grand Slam" by owning all four at the same time:
- Australian Open
- French Open
- U.S. Open
These tournaments are therefore also known as the Grand Slam tournaments. They rank as the most important tennis tournaments of the year in the public mind, as well as in terms of world ranking points and prize-money awarded. The titles are known as
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[edit] History
The term Grand Slam, as applied to tennis, was first used by
The expression Grand Slam, initially used to describe the winning of the tennis major events in one calendar year, was later incorporated by other sports, notably golf, to describe a similar accomplishment.
[edit] Winners
[edit] Grand Slam (4 majors in one calendar year)
[edit] Singles
- Rod Laver (1962 • 1969) (Male)
- Margaret Smith Court (1970) (Female)
- Steffi Graf (1988) (also the
[edit] Junior Singles
[edit] Doubles
- Margaret Smith &
Additionally, three players won all four Doubles Grand Slam titles, but switched partners after the Australian Open:
- Owen Davidson (1967), with
- Martina Hingis (1998), with
Margaret Smith also won one more Doubles Grand Slam, switching partners twice:
- Margaret Smith (1965), with
[edit] Grand Slam (4 majors, non calendar year)
Though the term was originally defined as winning all four tournaments in the same
After
Two other players — Steffi Graf and Serena Williams — have also completed this Grand Slam (by ITF regulations).
Winners of all four Grand Slam tournaments consecutively, but not in a single calendar year:
[edit] Singles
- Note: The Australian Open was held in December from 1977 through 1985, returning to its original January date in 1987. Her streak was Wimbledon, US, and Australian in 1983, followed by French, Wimbledon, and US in 1984.
- Steffi Graf (1993-94)
- Note: Graf also won a True Grand Slam in 1988.
- Serena Williams (2002-03)
- Note: She coined her accomplishment of this feat as the "
- Note: She coined her accomplishment of this feat as the "
[edit] Doubles
[edit] Most Grand Slam Titles in a Row
Don Budge 6 (1937 Wimbledon - 1938 US Open)
[edit] Most Grand Slam Titles in a Row (non-Consecutive)
Between 1924 and 1933, Helen Wills won 16 straight Grand Slam singles tournaments, the first 15 without losing a set. During this period, she won 5 Wimbledons, 4 French Championships, and 7 United States Championships. She also won the
[edit] Career Grand Slam
Winning all four Grand Slam tournaments non-consecutively is described as a "Career Grand Slam."
[edit] Singles
Players who won all four Grand Slam tournaments but not in a row include (age between square brackets):
- Women:
Especially in the men's game, a number of players dominant in their eras have failed to achieve the Career Grand Slam because of their inability to win a particular tournament, often due to that tournament being ill-suited to the player's game.
[edit] Doubles
Teams that have won a Career Grand Slam (not in one calendar year):
- Roy Emerson &
- Serena Williams & Venus Williams (1999-2000-01)
Players who won a Career Grand Slam in doubles:
[edit] Mixed doubles
Teams that have won a Career Grand Slam:
Players who won a Career Grand Slam in mixed doubles:
Serena and Venus Williams won what could be called "Williams family Slam" in mixed doubles in 1998 when they held all 4 mixed doubles Grand Slam titles.
[edit] Golden Slam
The Golden Slam, or Golden Grand Slam, is winning all four Grand Slam tournaments, as well as the Gold medal in tennis at the
[edit] True Golden Slam
So far this feat has been achieved only once:
[edit] Career Golden Slam
Winning all tournaments in a True Golden Slam, but not in the same calendar year:
- Teams that won a Career Golden Slam:
- Serena Williams & Venus Williams (1999-2000-01)
[edit] Small Slam
Players who have won three of the four Grand Slam tournaments in the same year, are sometimes said to have achieved a small slam.
[edit] Men
- Roy Emerson (1964): Australian, Wimbledon & U.S. Championships
- Jimmy Connors (1974): Australian, Wimbledon & U.S. Open
- Roger Federer (2004,2006): Australian, Wimbledon & U.S. Open
Juniors:
[edit] Women
- Helen Wills (1928, '29): French, Wimbledon & U.S. Championships
- Margaret Smith Court - also winner of True Grand Slam
- 1962, '69, '73: Australian, French & U.S. Championships/Open
- 1965: Australian, Wimbledon & U.S. Championships
- 1983: Australian, Wimbledon & U.S. Open
- 1984: French, Wimbledon & U.S. Open
- Steffi Graf - also winner of True Grand Slam
- 1989: Australian, Wimbledon & U.S. Open
- 1993, '95, '96: French, Wimbledon & U.S. Open
- Martina Hingis (1997): Australian, Wimbledon & U.S. Open
- Serena Williams (2002): French, Wimbledon & U.S. Open - completed Serena Slam by winning the 2003 Australian Open title
Juniors:
[edit] The career "Boxed Set"
Another Grand Slam-related accomplishment imaginable is winning a "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles – winning the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at all four Grand Slam events. No male player has ever achieved this feat, but three women have completed the "boxed set" during their careers:
- Margaret Smith Court
Serena Williams has come closer than any other currently active player to joining this elite group. She has yet to win the mixed doubles in the Australian and French Opens.
In recent years, the top men's singles players have played comparatively little doubles, and very little mixed doubles, making it unlikely to be achieved by a male player.