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Grand Slam (tennis)

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Tennis

The Grand Slam tournaments, or Majors, are the four most important annual tennis events. They offer the most ranking points,[1] prize money, public and media attention, the greatest strength and size of field, and greater number of "best of" sets for men. The Grand Slam itinerary consists of the Australian Open in mid January, the French Open in May and June, Wimbledon in June and July, and the US Open in August and September. Each tournament is played over a period of two weeks. The Australian and US tournaments are played on hard courts, the French on clay, and Wimbledon on grass. Wimbledon is the oldest, founded in 1877, followed by the US in 1881, the French in 1891, and the Australian in 1905. However, of these four, only Wimbledon was a major before 1924/25, the time when all four became designated Grand Slam tournaments.

The term Grand Slam also, and originally, refers to the achievement of winning all four major championships in a single calendar year within one of the five events: men's and women's singles; men's, women's, and mixed doubles. In doubles, one team may accomplish a Grand Slam playing together or one player may achieve it with different partners. The term "Grand Slam" without qualification refers to winning the four majors in a single calendar year.[2][3][4]

Winning the four majors in consecutive tournaments but not in the same year is known as a Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam, while winning all four majors at any point during the course of a career is known as a Career Grand Slam. Winning the gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games in addition to the four majors in a one calendar year is known as a "Golden Grand Slam" or more commonly the "Golden Slam". Also, winning the Year-End Championship (known as ATP World Tour Finals for men's singles and doubles disciplines, and WTA Tour Championships for both women's disciplines) in the same period is known as a "Super Slam". Together, all four Majors in all three disciplines (singles, doubles, and mixed doubles) are called a "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles. No male or female player has won all twelve events in one calendar year, although a "career boxed set" has been achieved by three female players during their careers.

Origin of the term "Grand Slam"

The term slam for winning all of the tricks in the whist family card games (see also whist terms) is attested from early in the 17th century. Grand slam for all of the tricks, in contrast to small slam or little slam for all but one, dates from early in the 19th century.[5] This use was inherited by contract bridge, a modern development of whist defined in 1925 that became very popular in Britain and America by 1930.

Grand slam has been used in golf since 1930, when Bobby Jones won the four major championships, two British and two American. Although John F. Kieran is widely credited with first applying the term "grand slam" to tennis, to describe the winning of all four major tennis tournaments in a calendar year, sports columnist Alan Gould had used the term in that connection almost two months before Kieran.[6]

History

The possibility of being the reigning champion of all the current four Majors did not exist until 1924/25, when the International Lawn Tennis Federation designated the Australasian, French (before 1925 only open to members of French tennis clubs), British and American championship tournaments as the four Majors. Before that time only three events: Wimbledon, the World Hard Court Championships (held in Paris & once in Brussels) and the World Covered Court Championships (held in various locations) were considered the premier international tennis events by the ILTF.[7][8] Tony Wilding of New Zealand won all three of those earlier majors in one year – 1913. It has been possible to complete a Grand Slam in most years and most disciplines since 1925. It was not possible from 1940 to 1945 because of interruptions at Wimbledon, the Australian and French opens due to the Second World War, the years from 1970 to 1985 when there was no Australian tournament in mixed doubles, and 1986 when there was no Australian Open at all.

The first definitive Grand Slam, of the current four majors, was accomplished when Don Budge won all four men's singles Majors in 1938. To date, 17 players have completed a Grand Slam, though only six in the most prestigious singles titles. Of these players, three have won multiple Grand Slams: Rod Laver accomplished the feat twice in men's singles; Margaret Court accomplished the feat three times, in two different disciplines – once in women's singles and twice in mixed doubles; and Esther Vergeer completed a grand slam twice in Women's wheelchair doubles.

The four Junior disciplines, boys' and girls' singles and doubles, provide limited opportunities to achieve a Grand Slam. Players are only eligible from age 13 to 18, with 18-year-olds likely to hold a physical advantage. Only Stefan Edberg has completed the Grand Slam in a Junior discipline.

Tournament details

Winners

Grand Slam champions

Champions who completed the Grand Slam

Chronological

# Year Player Discipline Notes
1 1938 United States Don Budge Men's singles Part of a total of 6 consecutive titles
2 1951 Australia Ken McGregor & Australia Frank Sedgman Men's doubles Part of a total of 7 consecutive titles (8 consecutive for Sedgman)
3 1953 United States Maureen Connolly Women's singles Part of 6 consecutive titles
4 1960 Brazil Maria Bueno Women's doubles With Christine Truman and Darlene Hard
5 1962 Australia Rod Laver Men's singles
6 1963 Australia Margaret Court & Australia Ken Fletcher Mixed doubles Part of consecutive titles (Court 7, Fletcher 6)
7 1965 Australia Margaret Court Mixed doubles With Roy Emerson, Ken Fletcher and Fred Stolle – part of 5 consecutive titles
8 1967 Australia Owen Davidson Mixed doubles With Lesley Turner and Billie Jean King
9 1969 Australia Rod Laver Men's singles Only player to complete the singles' Grand Slam twice
10 1970 Australia Margaret Court Women's singles Six consecutive titles
11 1983 Sweden Stefan Edberg (in junior tennis) Boys' singles Only Junior to complete a Grand Slam
12 1984 United States Martina Navratilova & United States Pam Shriver Women's doubles Eight consecutive titles
13 1988 Germany Steffi Graf Women's singles Five consecutive titles
14 1998 Switzerland Martina Hingis Women's doubles With Mirjana Lučić and Jana Novotná
15 2009 Netherlands Esther Vergeer & Netherlands Korie Homan Women's wheelchair doubles Part of 14 consecutive titles for Vergeer
16 2011 Netherlands Esther Vergeer & Netherlands Sharon Walraven Women's wheelchair doubles Part of consecutive titles (Vergeer 8, Walraven 7)
17 2013 Netherlands Aniek van Koot & Netherlands Jiske Griffioen Women's wheelchair doubles
18 2014 France Stéphane Houdet Men's wheelchair doubles With Joachim Gérard and Shingo Kunieda
19 2014 Japan Yui Kamiji & United Kingdom Jordanne Whiley Women's wheelchair doubles

Per player

Player Grand Slams
Singles Doubles Mixed Total
Australia Margaret Court
1
2
3
Australia Rod Laver
2
2
Netherlands Esther Vergeer (wheelchair tennis)
2
United States Don Budge
1
1
Australia Ken McGregor
1
Australia Frank Sedgman
1
United States Maureen Connolly Brinker
1
Brazil Maria Bueno
1
Australia Ken Fletcher
1
Australia Owen Davidson
1
Sweden Stefan Edberg (junior tennis)
1
United States Martina Navratilova
1
United States Pam Shriver
1
Germany Steffi Graf
1
Switzerland Martina Hingis
1
Netherlands Korie Homan (wheelchair tennis)
1
Netherlands Sharon Walraven (wheelchair tennis)
1
Netherlands Aniek van Koot (wheelchair tennis)
1
Netherlands Jiske Griffioen (wheelchair tennis)
1
France Stéphane Houdet (wheelchair tennis)
1
Japan Yui Kamiji (wheelchair tennis)
1
United Kingdom Jordanne Whiley (wheelchair tennis)
1

Non-calendar year Grand Slam

In 1982 the International Tennis Federation (ITF) broadened the definition of the Grand Slam as meaning any four consecutive major victories, including the ones spanning two calendar years.[9] As defined in the constitution of the ITF: "The Grand Slam titles are the championships of Australia, France, the United States of America and Wimbledon. Players who hold all four of these titles at the same time achieve the Grand Slam".[10] As this definition differs from the original definition of the Grand Slam as restricted to a single calendar year, there has been some controversy towards this redefinition in the tennis world.[11][12] Subsequently, the ITF has distanced itself from the 1982 decision, reverting to the traditional calendar-year definition (when Martina Navratilova won the 1984 French Open to become the reigning champion of all four women's singles, the ITF awarded her $1 million Grand Slam bonus in recognition of her achievement.[9] However subsequently, the ITF abandoned recognizing non-calendar year grand slams.

Combining the Grand Slam and non-calendar year Grand Slam, the total number of times that players achieved the feat (of being the reigning champion in all four majors) expands to 18.

Laver was the most recent male grand-slammer even by this more relaxed definition until 2013, when the Bryan brothers won Wimbledon while holding the other majors. But Laver still is the most recent single male grand-slammer. Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde reached the final of the 1997 French Open holding all the other three titles, but lost to Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Daniel Vacek; in singles, Roger Federer in 2006 and 2007 and Novak Djokovic in 2011 repeated this, both ultimately losing the Paris final to Rafael Nadal. Nadal himself was prevented from achieving this feat by his own countryman David Ferrer, who defeated him in the quarterfinal of the Australian Open 2011, with Nadal previously having won the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in 2010.

Men's doubles

  • Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan (2012–13)
    • Four consecutive major titles from 2012 US Open to the 2013 Wimbledon.

Women's singles

  • Martina Navratilova (1983–84)
    • Six consecutive major titles from 1983 Wimbledon to US Open 1984.
Note: From 1977 to 1985, the Australian Open was held in December as the last Major of the calendar year.
  • Steffi Graf (1993–94)
    • Four consecutive major titles from 1993 French Open to the 1994 Australian Open.
  • Serena Williams (2002–03, 2014-15)
    • Four consecutive major titles from 2002 French Open to the 2003 Australian Open.
    • Four consecutive major titles from 2014 US Open to 2015 Wimbledon.

Women's doubles

  • Pam Shriver and Martina Navratilova (1986–87)
    • Four consecutive major titles from 1986 Wimbledon to the 1987 French Open.
    • Navratilova also won the 1986 French Open with Andrea Temesvári, totaling 5 consecutive major titles for her.
  • Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva (1992–93)
    • Six consecutive major titles from the 1992 French Open to 1993 Wimbledon.
  • Natasha Zvereva (1996–97)
    • Four consecutive major titles from the 1996 US Open to 1997 Wimbledon (three times with Gigi Fernández and the 1997 Australian Open won with Martina Hingis).
  • Serena Williams and Venus Williams (2009–2010)
    • Four consecutive titles from 2009 Wimbledon to the 2010 French Open.

Mixed doubles

  • Billie Jean King (1967–68)
    • Four consecutive major titles from 1967 French Championships to the 1968 Australian Championships (three times with Owen Davidson and the 1968 Australian Championships won with Dick Crealy).

Men's wheelchair doubles

  • Stephane Houdet (2009–2010)
    • Five consecutive titles from the 2009 French Open to 2010 French Open (the first two with Michael Jeremiasz, the 2009 US Open won with Stefan Olsson and the last two with Shingo Kunieda)
  • Shingo Kunieda (2014–2015)
    • Four consecutive titles from the 2014 Wimbledon to 2015 French Open (the first three with Stephane Houdet and the 2015 French Open with Gordon Reid)

Career Grand Slam

The career achievement of all four major championships in one discipline is termed a Career Grand Slam in that discipline. Dozens of players have accomplished that (column two) and 17 have doubled it: won a second championship in each of the four majors in one discipline (column three). Two or more career championships in all four majors is sometimes called a "Multiple Slam Set". Three players have Multiple Slam Sets in two disciplines, one in three disciplines, so 22 players are counted in the table (column three). Their achievements are tabulated below.

Career Grand Slams by discipline
Discipline Numbers of players
completed the Career GS completed at least two
Men's Singles 7 players (2 Golden) 2 players
Women's Singles 10 players (2 Golden) 4 players
Men's Doubles 21 players (14 as teams) 5 players (2 as a team)
Women's Doubles 21 players (10 as teams) 8 players (6 as teams)
Mixed Doubles 15 players (5 as teams) 4 players (2 as teams)

Seven men and ten women have won Career Grand Slams in singles play (rows one and two); among them two men and four women have at least two Career Grand Slams in singles (column three). Since the beginning of the open era, four men and six women have achieved this (Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal; Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova).

Several singles players have won three major championships without achieving the Career Grand Slam. Henri Cochet, Helen Wills, Althea Gibson, Tony Trabert and Margaret Osborne duPont never won the Australian Open. Frank Sedgman, Louise Brough Clapp, Pete Sampras, John Newcombe, Jimmy Connors, Lindsay Davenport, Martina Hingis and Novak Djokovic failed to win the French Open. Ken Rosewall, Hana Mandliková, Ivan Lendl, Monica Seles and Justine Henin failed to win Wimbledon. Jean Borotra, Jack Crawford, Lew Hoad, and Evonne Goolagong Cawley never won the US Open.

Only six players have completed a Career Grand Slams in both singles and doubles, one male (Roy Emerson) and five female (Margaret Court, Doris Hart, Shirley Fry Irvin, Martina Navratilova and Serena Williams). Court, Hart and Navratilova are the only three players to have completed a "Career Boxed Set", winning all four titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles; this has never been done by a male player.

The remainder of this section is a complete list, by discipline, of all players who have won the Career Grand Slam. Players are ordered chronologically by their completion of the Slam.

Men's singles

Seven men have won the four grand slam tournaments. Two of the seven men achieved a double career Slam.

# Player Age Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open
1 United Kingdom Fred Perry 26 1934 1935 1934 1933
2 United States Don Budge 23 1938 1938 1937 1937
3 Australia Rod Laver 24 1960 1962 1961 1962
4 Australia Roy Emerson 27 1961 1963 1964 1961
5 United States Andre Agassi 29 1995 1999 1992 1994
6 Switzerland Roger Federer 27 2004 2009 2003 2004
7 Spain Rafael Nadal 24 2009 2005 2008 2010

Women's singles

Each woman's "first wins" in the four Majors are listed chronologically and their ages upon completion of the Slam are given in brackets. Five of the ten women achieved at least two career Slams, two of the ten have achieved three careers slams and Steffi Graf is the only play to achieve four career Slams.

# Player Age Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open
1 United States Maureen Connolly Brinker 18 1953 1953 1952 1951
2 United States Doris Hart 28 1949 1950 1951 1954
3 United States Shirley Fry Irvin 29 1957 1951 1956 1956
4 Australia Margaret Court 20 1960 1962 1963 1962
5 United States Billie Jean King 28 1968 1972 1966 1967
6 United States Chris Evert 28 1982 1974 1974 1975
7 United States Martina Navratilova 26 1981 1982 1978 1983
8 Germany Steffi Graf 19 1988 1987 1988 1988
9 United States Serena Williams 21 2003 2002 2002 1999
10 Russia Maria Sharapova 25 2008 2012 2004 2006
Note: From 1977 to 1985, the Australian Open was held in December as the last Major of the calendar year.

Men's doubles

At Men's Doubles, 21 players have won the career Slam including fourteen who "slammed" with one partner. The latter are listed first, as seven teams, ignoring any major wins with other partners. Five of the 21 men achieved at least a double career Slam at Men's Doubles, led by Roy Emerson and John Newcombe with triple Slams.

# Player Age Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open
1 Australia Adrian Quist 26 1936 1935 1935 1939
2 Australia Frank Sedgman 24 1951 1951 1948 1950
3 Australia Ken McGregor 23 1951 1951 1951 1951
4 Australia Lew Hoad 21 1953 1953 1953 1956
Australia Ken Rosewall 22 1953 1953 1956 1956
6 Australia Neale Fraser 25 1957 1958 1959 1957
7 Australia Roy Emerson 25 1962 1960 1959 1959
8 Australia John Newcombe 23 1965 1967 1965 1967
Australia Tony Roche 24 1965 1967 1965 1967
10 South Africa Bob Hewitt 37 1963 1972 1962 1977
11 Australia John Fitzgerald 28 1982 1986 1989 1984
Sweden Anders Järryd 29 1987 1983 1989 1987
13 Netherlands Jacco Eltingh 28 1994 1995 1994 1998
Netherlands Paul Haarhuis 32 1994 1995 1994 1998
15 Australia Todd Woodbridge 29 1992 2000 1993 1995
Australia Mark Woodforde 34 1992 2000 1993 1989
17 Sweden Jonas Björkman 32 1998 2005 2002 2003
18 United States Bob Bryan 30 2006 2003 2006 2005
United States Mike Bryan 30 2006 2003 2006 2005
20 Canada Daniel Nestor 35 2002 2007 2008 2004
21 India Leander Paes 38 2012 1999 1999 2006
Note: From 1977 to 1985, the Australian Open was held in December as the last Major of the calendar year.

Women's doubles

At Women's Doubles, 22 players have won the career Slam including ten who "slammed" with one partner. Eight of the 22 achieved at least a double career Slam at Women's Doubles, led by Martina Navratilova with seven or more titles in each Major.

# Player Age Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open
1 United States Louise Brough Clapp 27 1950 1946 1946 1942
2 United States Doris Hart 26 1949 1951 1951 1951
3 United States Shirley Fry Irvin 30 1957 1950 1951 1951
4 United States Althea Gibson 30 1957 1956 1956 1957
5 Brazil Maria Bueno 20 1960 1960 1958 1960
6 Australia Margaret Court 22 1961 1964 1964 1963
Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey 21 1964 1964 1964 1961
8 Australia Judy Tegart Dalton 32 1964 1966 1969 1970
9 Czechoslovakia/United States Martina Navratilova 23 1980 1975 1976 1977
10 United States Kathy Jordan 21 1981 1980 1980 1981
United States Anne Smith 21 1981 1980 1980 1981
12 United States Pam Shriver 21 1982 1984 1981 1983
13 Czechoslovakia Helena Suková 25 1990 1990 1987 1985
14 United States Gigi Fernández 28 1993 1991 1992 1988
Soviet Union/Belarus Natasha Zvereva 21 1993 1989 1991 1991
16 Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic Jana Novotná 25 1990 1990 1989 1994
17 Switzerland Martina Hingis 17 1997 1998 1996 1998
18 United States Serena Williams 19 2001 1999 2000 1999
United States Venus Williams 20 2001 1999 2000 1999
20 United States Lisa Raymond 33 2000 2006 2001 2001
21 Italy Sara Errani 27 2013 2012 2014 2012
Italy Roberta Vinci 31 2013 2012 2014 2012
Note: From 1977 to 1985, the Australian Open was held in December as the last Major of the calendar year.

Mixed doubles

At Mixed Doubles, a total of 15 players have won the career Slam, including five who "slammed" as a pair (won all four with same partner) — an odd number because Margaret Court has accomplished a career Grand Slam separately with Ken Fletcher and Marty Riessen. The other two of the five are Doris Hart and Frank Sedgman. Also three of the 15 players have accomplished multiple career Grand Slams in mixed doubles, led by Margaret Court's quadruple Slam.

# Player Age Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open
1 France Jean Borotra 29 1928 1927 1925 1926
2 United States Doris Hart 26 1949 1951 1951 1951
Australia Frank Sedgman 21 1949 1951 1951 1951
4 Australia Margaret Court 20 1963 1963 1963 1961
5 Australia Ken Fletcher 23 1963 1963 1963 1963
6 Australia Owen Davidson 23 1965 1967 1967 1966
7 United States Billie Jean King 24 1968 1967 1967 1967
8 United States Marty Riessen 33 1969 1969 1975 1969
9 Union of South Africa Bob Hewitt 39 1961 1970 1977 1979
10 Australia Mark Woodforde 27 1992 1992 1993 1992
11 Australia Todd Woodbridge 24 1993 1995 1994 1990
12 Czechoslovakia/United States Martina Navratilova 46 2003 1974 1985 1985
13 Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová 22 2002 2005 2001 2005
14 India Mahesh Bhupathi 29 2006 1997 2002 1999
15 Zimbabwe Cara Black 30 2010 2002 2004 2008

Boys singles

Boys doubles

  • Mark Kratzmann (1983 French Open, Wimbledon & US Open; 1984 Australian Open)

Men wheelchair doubles

Wheelchair tennis Grand Slams are possible only in men's doubles and women's doubles.[nb 1]

# Player Age Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open
1  Shingo Kunieda (JPN) 24 2007 2008 2006 2007
2  Michael Jeremiasz (FRA) 32 2003 2009 2009 2005
3  Stéphane Houdet (FRA) 40 2010 2007 2009 2009
4  Maikel Scheffers (NED) 28 2011 2008 2011 2010

Women wheelchair doubles

Wheelchair tennis Grand Slams are possible only in men's doubles and women's doubles.[nb 1]

# Player Age Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open
1  Esther Vergeer (NED) 27 2004 2007 2009 2005
 Korie Homan (NED) 29 2009 2009 2009 2005
3  Sharon Walraven (NED) 40 2011 2010 2010 2010
4  Jiske Griffioen (NED) 27 2006 2008 2012 2006
5  Aniek van Koot (NED) 23 2010 2013 2012 2013
6  Yui Kamiji (JPN) 20 2014 2014 2014 2014
 Jordanne Whiley (GRB) 22 2014 2014 2014 2014

Most consecutive Grand Slam tournament titles

Men's singles

Women's singles

Note: From 1977 to 1985, the Australian Open was held in December as the last Major of the calendar year.

Men's doubles

Team:

Player:

  • 8: Frank Sedgman (from the 1950 U.S. Championships to the 1952 Wimbledon)

Women's doubles

Team and Player:

Mixed doubles

Team:

Player:

  • 7: Margaret Court (from the 1962 US Championships to the 1964 French Championships)

Men's wheelchair singles

  • 13: Shingo Kunieda (from the 2007 Australian Open to the 2011 French Open)

Women's wheelchair singles

Men's wheelchair doubles

Player:

Women's wheelchair doubles

Team:

Player:

Most consecutive Grand Slam singles finals

Men

Rank Player Cons.
finals
From To
1 Switzerland Roger Federer 10 2005 Wimbledon Championships 2007 US Open
2 Switzerland Roger Federer 8 2008 French Open 2010 Australian Open
3 Australia Jack Crawford 7 1934 Australian Championships 1935 Wimbledon Championships
4 United States Don Budge 6 1937 Wimbledon Championships 1938 U.S. Championships
= Australia Rod Laver 6 1961 Wimbledon Championships 1962 U.S. Championships
6 United Kingdom Fred Perry 5 1934 Wimbledon Championships 1935 Wimbledon Championships
= Australia Frank Sedgman 5 1951 U.S. Championships 1952 U.S. Championships
= Australia Fred Stolle 5 1964 Wimbledon Championships 1965 Wimbledon Championships
= Spain Rafael Nadal 5 2011 French Open 2012 French Open
10 Australia Lew Hoad 4 1956 Australian Championships 1956 U.S. Championships
= Australia Rod Laver 4 1969 Australian Open 1969 US Open
= United States Andre Agassi 4 1999 French Open 2000 Australian Open
= Serbia Novak Djokovic 4 2011 Wimbledon Championships 2012 French Open

Women

Rank Player Cons.
finals
From To
1 Germany Steffi Graf 13 1987 French Open 1990 French Open
2 United States Martina Navratilova 11 1985 French Open 1987 US Open
3 United States Maureen Connolly Brinker 6 1952 Wimbledon Championships 1953 US Championships
= Australia Margaret Court 6 1969 US Open 1971 Australian Open
= United States Martina Navratilova 6 1983 Wimbledon Championships 1984 US Open
= United States Chris Evert 6 1984 French Open 1985 Wimbledon Championships
= Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia/Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles 6 1991 US Open 1993 Australian Open
8 Australia Margaret Court 5 1963 Wimbledon Championships 1964 Wimbledon Championships
= Australia Margaret Court 5 1965 Australian Championships 1966 Australian Championships
= Germany Steffi Graf 5 1993 Australian Open 1994 Australian Open
= Switzerland Martina Hingis 5 1997 Australian Open 1998 Australian Open

Most Grand Slam singles titles in a row (non-consecutive)

Helen Wills Moody won all 16 of the Grand Slam singles tournaments she played beginning with the 1924 U.S. Championships and extending to the 1933 Wimbledon Championships (not counting her defaults in the 1926 French and Wimbledon Championships). The first 15 of those were won without losing a set. During this period, she won 6 Wimbledons, 4 French Championships, and 6 U.S. Championships. She also won the 1924 Summer Olympics during this period. Moody never entered the Australian Championships.

Most Grand Slam mixed doubles titles in a row (non-consecutive)

Doris Hart won all 13 of the Grand Slam mixed doubles tournaments she played beginning with the 1951 French Championships and extending to the 1955 U.S. Championships. During this period, she won 5 Wimbledons, 3 French Championships, and 5 U.S. Championships.

Golden Slam

Tennis was an Olympic sport from the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics through the 1924 Games, then was dropped for the next 64 years (except as a demonstration sport in 1968 and 1984) before returning in 1988. As there were only three Major championships designated by the International Lawn Tennis Federation before 1925, none of the tennis players who participated in the Olympics between 1896 and 1924 had a chance to complete a Golden Grand Slam. However although it didn't occur, there was a possibility to complete a Career Golden Grand Slam by winning the 1920 Olympics or 1924 Olympics plus each of the four grand slams, all of which were present from 1925 onwards. The term Golden Slam (initially "Golden Grand Slam") was coined in 1988.[13]

Only one player has completed the Golden Slam:[14][15]

Germany Steffi Graf (1988 Australian Open, 1988 French Open, 1988 Wimbledon Championships, 1988 US Open & 1988 Olympic gold medal)

Non-calendar year Golden Slam

Winning four consecutive Grand Slam tournaments and Olympic event in the period of twelve months, although not in one year is called a Non-calendar year Golden Slam.[16] Only Bob and Mike Bryan have achieved this by winning the 2012 Olympics, 2012 US Open, 2013 Australian Open, 2013 French Open and 2013 Wimbledon Championships. After they won the final at Wimbledon, this was coined the "Golden Bryan Slam".[17]

  • Note: Although Serena Williams held all 4 majors (winning consecutively all 4 majors from the 2014 US Open to the 2015 Wimbledon) and the 2012 Olympic Gold at the same time, it isn't considered a non-calendar year Golden Slam because she won her gold medal three years prior to the 12-month period where she held all 4 majors.

Career Golden Slam

A player who wins all four Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympic gold medal during his or her career is said to have achieved a Career Golden Slam. Serena Williams is the only player to have achieved a career golden slam in both singles and doubles.[18]

# Player Discipline Australia
Australian Open
France
French Open
United Kingdom
Wimbledon
United States
US Open
International Olympic Committee
Olympics
1 United States Pam Shriver Women's doubles 1982 1984 1981 1983 1988
2 Germany Steffi Graf Women's singles 1988 1987 1988 1988 1988
3 United States Gigi Fernández Women's doubles 1993 1991 1992 1988 1992
4 United States Andre Agassi Men's singles 1995 1999 1992 1994 1996
5 Australia Todd Woodbridge Men's doubles 1992 2000 1993 1992 1996
Australia Mark Woodforde Men's doubles 1992 2000 1993 1992 1996
7 United States Serena Williams Women's doubles 2001 1999 2000 1999 2000
United States Venus Williams Women's doubles 2001 1999 2000 1999 2000
9 Japan Shingo Kunieda Men's wheelchair doubles 2009 2008 2006 2007 2004
10 Netherlands Korie Homan Women's wheelchair doubles 2009 2009 2009 2005 2008
11 Netherlands Esther Vergeer Women's wheelchair doubles 2004 2007 2009 2005 2000
12 Canada Daniel Nestor Men's doubles 2002 2007 2009 2004 2000
13 France Michael Jeremiasz Men's wheelchair doubles 2003 2009 2009 2005 2008
14 France Stéphane Houdet Men's wheelchair doubles 2010 2007 2009 2009 2008
15 Spain Rafael Nadal Men's singles 2009 2005 2008 2010 2008
16 Netherlands Sharon Walraven Women's wheelchair doubles 2011 2011 2010 2010 2008
17 United States Bob Bryan Men's doubles 2006 2003 2006 2005 2012
United States Mike Bryan Men's doubles 2006 2003 2006 2005 2012
19 United States Serena Williams Women's singles 2003 2002 2002 1999 2012

Super Slam

In 1970 a tournament was created to reunite the top male players of the season, which is today called the ATP World Tour Finals. In 1972 the women's tour introduced the same concept, now known as the WTA Tour Championships. Both are contested at the end of the year and are the last official competitions of the ATP and WTA seasons. Winning this event along with the four Grand Slams and the Olympic gold medal is nowadays known as completing the Super Slam.[19][20][21] But this achievement has only been possible since 1988, when tennis returned to the Olympic calendar.

No player has ever completed the Super Slam in one season.

Non-calendar year Super Slam

Only one player has completed the Super Slam in the period of twelve months:

Germany Steffi Graf (1987 WTA Tour Championships, 1988 Australian Open, 1988 French Open, 1988 Wimbledon Championships, 1988 US Open & 1988 Olympic gold medal)
  • Note: Although Serena Williams held all 4 majors (winning consecutively all 4 majors from the 2014 US Open to the 2015 Wimbledon), the 2012 Olympic Gold and the 2014 WTA Tour Championships at the same time, it isn't considered a Non-calendar year Super Slam for not have been accomplished in a 12-month period.

Career Super Slam

Only a few players have completed the Super Slam during their career:

# Player Discipline Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open Olympics ATP / WTA YEC
1 United States Pam Shriver Women's doubles 1982 1984 1981 1983 1988 1981
2 Germany Steffi Graf Women's singles 1988 1987 1988 1988 1988 1987
3 United States Gigi Fernández Women's doubles 1993 1991 1992 1988 1992 1991
4 United States Andre Agassi Men's singles 1995 1999 1992 1994 1996 1990
5 Australia Todd Woodbridge Men's doubles 1992 2000 1993 1992 1996 1992
Australia Mark Woodforde Men's doubles 1992 2000 1993 1992 1996 1992
7 Netherlands Esther Vergeer Women's wheelchair doubles 2004 2007 2009 2005 2000 2001
8 Netherlands Korie Homan Women's wheelchair doubles 2009 2009 2009 2005 2008 2004
9 Canada Daniel Nestor Men's doubles 2002 2007 2009 2004 2000 2007
10 France Michael Jeremiasz Men's wheelchair doubles 2003 2009 2009 2005 2008 2008
11 France Stéphane Houdet Men's wheelchair doubles 2010 2007 2009 2009 2008 2006
12 Netherlands Sharon Walraven Women's wheelchair doubles 2011 2011 2010 2010 2008 2010
13 United States Bob Bryan Men's doubles 2006 2003 2006 2005 2012 2003
United States Mike Bryan Men's doubles 2006 2003 2006 2005 2012 2003
15 United States Serena Williams Women's singles 2003 2002 2002 1999 2012 2001
16 Japan Shingo Kunieda Men's wheelchair doubles 2009 2008 2006 2007 2004 2012

Three Major tournament titles in a year

Players who have won three of the four Grand Slam tournaments in the same year. Jack Crawford, Lew Hoad and Martina Navratilova won the first three events, but lost the last grand slam tournament. Crawford, an asthmatic, won two of the first three sets of the 1933 U.S. Championships final against Fred Perry, then tired in the heat and lost the last two sets and the match.[22]

Triple Crown

Winning singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles at one Grand Slam event is called a Triple Crown.[25][26][27] It has become a rare accomplishment in tennis. This is partly because the final match in all three disciplines often takes place concurrently in the same day if not in consecutive days. Doris Hart for example attained her first Triple Crown after playing three Wimbledon final matches held in one single day.

Notes:

  • This list excludes the 1909 triple crown of Jeanne Matthey and the 1920, 1921, 1922 and 1923 triple crown wins of Suzanne Lenglen. The French Championship tennis tournament at the time was a domestic competition not recognized as an international major. At the time the major clay court event (actual precursor of the French Open in its current international format) was the World Hard Court Championships, where Suzanne Lenglen also attained triple championship in 1921 and 1922).
  • Also the 1941 triple championship of Alice Weiwers is not listed due to its disputed official status: French championships held in Vichy France from 1941 to 1945 are currently not recognized by Fédération Française de Tennis.

Boxed Set

Another Grand Slam-related accomplishment is winning a "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles – which is at least one of every possible type of Major championship available to a player: the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at all four Grand Slam events of the year. This has never been accomplished within a year or consecutively across two calendar years.

Career Boxed Set

The Career Boxed set refers to winning a set of all possible grand slam titles over the course of an entire career. No male player has completed this. Men who participate in top/elite level singles have played comparatively few doubles, and very few mixed doubles. So far, only three women have completed the boxed set during their careers:

Boxed Sets
(minimum amount of
each of all possible titles)
Player Age Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open
2
Australia Margaret Court 22
(Pre-Open Era)
1960 (WS)
1961 (WD)
1963 (XD)
1962 (WS)
1964 (WD)
1963 (XD)
1963 (WS)
1964 (WD)
1963 (XD)
1962 (WS)
1963 (WD)
1961 (XD)
31
(Post-Open Era)
1969 (WS)
1969 (WD)
1969 (XD)
1969 (WS)
1973 (WD)
1969 (XD)
1970 (WS)
1969 (WD)
1968 (XD)
1969 (WS)
1968 (WD)
1969 (XD)
1
United States Doris Hart 29
1949 (WS)
1950 (WD)
1949 (XD)
1950 (WS)
1948 (WD)
1951 (XD)
1951 (WS)
1947 (WD)
1951 (XD)
1954 (WS)
1951 (WD)
1951 (XD)
1
United States Martina Navratilova 47
1981 (WS)
1980 (WD)
2003 (XD)
1982 (WS)
1975 (WD)
1974 (XD)
1978 (WS)
1976 (WD)
1985 (XD)
1983 (WS)
1977 (WD)
1985 (XD)

Court is not only unique in having two boxed sets, but is also unique in the timing of her accomplishments. Her first boxed set was completed before the start of the open era, and she has a boxed set achieved solely within the open era.

Serena Williams has come closer than any other currently active player to joining this elite group. She has yet to win the mixed doubles at the Australian and French Opens (finishing as the runner-up at the 1999 Australian Open and 1998 French Open). Prior to Williams, it was Billie Jean King who came close at completing a career boxed set. She only needed the Australian Open women's doubles title and although she reached the final twice (in 1965 and 1969), she failed to win the title.

Multiple Career Grand Slams

Of the many players who have managed to win a full set of four Majors, there is a small number who have gone on to win all four Majors a second or more times. The completion of "Multiple Career Grand Slams" or sometimes called "multiple slam sets" (MSS) has been achieved by only 22 unique players up to the end of the 2015 Wimbledon. MSS players can be found in each of the five tennis disciplines: men's or women's singles, men's or women's doubles, mixed doubles. It can also be found in women's wheelchair doubles. Of these, five players have completed MSS in more than one discipline: Roy Emerson, Martina Navratilova, Frank Sedgman and Serena Williams have MSS in two disciplines, Margaret Court has MSS in three disciplines.

This table shows each multiple occurrence of a complete MSS for each of the players who have accomplished multiple slams in a particular tennis discipline. The year shown for each of the four Majors is the year that particular Major win was repeated as part of that player's achievement of their second (all 22 players) and third (8 players) and fourth (4 players) and fifth through seventh (Martina Navratilova, in women’s doubles) complete slam set of Major wins.[clarification needed]

For example, the fourth row shows that Margaret Court completed her third career slam set in Women's Singles —winning each of the four majors three times— during the 1970 Wimbledon Championships (bold). More specific, she won: Australian open 11 times, the third in 1962; French Open five times, the third in 1969; Wimbledon three times (determines the maximum of sets), the third in 1970 and finally US Open five times, the third in 1969. Grey background shades lesser achievements by the same player in the same discipline (e.g., Court in the eighth row); yellow highlights the greatest achievement in the discipline (e.g., Graf in the third row).

Slam Sets completed, second and subsequent sets
(chronological sequence in column one)
Name Country Discipline MSS Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open
09 Roy Emerson  AUS Men's Singles 2 1963 1967 1965 1964
13 Rod Laver  AUS Men's Singles 2 1962 1969 1962 1969
34 Steffi Graf  GER Women's Singles 4 1994 1995 1992 1995
15 Margaret Court  AUS Women's Singles 3 1962 1969 1970 1969
48 Serena Williams  USA Women's Singles 3 2007 2015 2009 2008
21 Martina Navratilova  USA Women's Singles 2 1983 1984 1979 1984
22 Chris Evert  USA Women's Singles 2 1984 1975 1976 1976
06 Margaret Court  AUS Women's Singles 2 1961 1964 1965 1965
30 Steffi Graf  FRG Women's Singles 2 1989 1988 1989 1989
31 Steffi Graf  GER Women's Singles 3 1990 1993 1991 1993
42 Serena Williams  USA Women's Singles 2 2005 2013 2003 2002
16 Roy Emerson  AUS Men's Doubles 3 1969 1962 1971 1965
18 John Newcombe  AUS Men's Doubles 3 1971 1973 1968 1973
01 Frank Sedgman  AUS Men's Doubles 2 1952 1952 1951 1951
04 Neale Fraser  AUS Men's Doubles 2 1958 1960 1961 1960
10 Fred Stolle  AUS Men's Doubles 2 1964 1968 1964 1966
14 Ken Rosewall  AUS Men's Doubles 2 1956 1968 1956 1969
43 Bob Bryan  USA Men's Doubles 2 2007 2013 2011 2008
44 Mike Bryan  USA Men's Doubles 2 2007 2013 2011 2008
07 Roy Emerson  AUS Men's Doubles 2 1966 1961 1961 1960
17 John Newcombe  AUS Men's Doubles 2 1967 1969 1966 1971
28 Martina Navratilova  USA Women's Doubles 7 1988 1988 1986 1987
29 Pam Shriver  USA Women's Doubles 4 1985 1988 1984 1987
35 Natasha Zvereva  BLR Women's Doubles 3 1997 1993 1993 1995
12 Margaret Court  AUS Women's Doubles 2 1962 1965 1969 1968
32 Gigi Fernández  USA Women's Doubles 2 1994 1992 1993 1990
36 Jana Novotná  CZE Women's Doubles 2 1995 1991 1990 1997
37 Serena Williams  USA Women's Doubles 2 2003 2010 2002 2009
38 Venus Williams  USA Women's Doubles 2 2003 2010 2002 2009
19 Martina Navratilova  USA Women's Doubles 2 1982 1982 1979 1978
20 Martina Navratilova  USA Women's Doubles 3 1983 1984 1981 1980
23 Martina Navratilova  USA Women's Doubles 4 1984 1985 1982 1983
25 Martina Navratilova  USA Women's Doubles 5 1985 1986 1983 1984
26 Martina Navratilova  USA Women's Doubles 6 1987 1987 1984 1986
24 Pam Shriver  USA Women's Doubles 2 1983 1985 1982 1984
27 Pam Shriver  USA Women's Doubles 3 1984 1987 1983 1986
33 Natasha Zvereva  BLR Women's Doubles 2 1994 1992 1992 1992
11 Margaret Court  AUS Mixed Doubles 4 1969 1969 1968 1964
02 Doris Hart  USA Mixed Doubles 2 1950 1952 1952 1952
03 Frank Sedgman  AUS Mixed Doubles 2 1950 1952 1952 1952
40 Mahesh Bhupathi  IND Mixed Doubles 2 2009 2012 2005 2005
05 Margaret Court  AUS Mixed Doubles 2 1964 1964 1965 1962
08 Margaret Court  AUS Mixed Doubles 3 1965 1965 1966 1963
41 Esther Vergeer  NED Women's wheelchair doubles 3 2012 2012 2011 2011
39 Esther Vergeer  NED Women's wheelchair doubles 2 2011 2011 2010 2010
45 Jiske Griffioen  NED Women's wheelchair doubles 2 2007 2013 2013 2007
48 Stéphane Houdet  FRA Men's wheelchair doubles 3 2015 2010 2014 2014
46 Stéphane Houdet  FRA Men's wheelchair doubles 2 2014 2009 2013 2011
47 Shingo Kunieda  JPN Men's wheelchair doubles 2 2008 2010 2013 2014

By discipline (numbers of players and table entries)

  • Men's Singles (2 people; 2 entries)
  • Women's Singles (5 people; 8 entries)
  • Men's Doubles (8 people; 10 entries)
  • Women's Doubles (8 people; 16 entries)
  • Mixed Doubles (4 people, 6 entries)
  • Men's Wheelchair Doubles (2 people; 2 entries)[nb 1]
  • Women's Wheelchair Doubles (1 people; 2 entries)[nb 1]

Pro Slam

Before the Open Era began in 1968, only amateurs players were allowed to compete in the four majors. Many top players "went pro" in order to win prize money legally, competing on a professional world tour comprising completely different events.[28] From 1927 through 1967, the three oldest pro events were considered "majors" of the pro tour: the U.S. Pro Tennis Championships, French Pro Championship and Wembley Championships.[29][30] A player who won all three in a calendar year was considered to achieve a "Professional Grand Slam", or "Pro Slam".[29][30] The feat was accomplished twice:

Australia Ken Rosewall in 1963;[31]
Australia Rod Laver in 1967.[32]

Three other players won those three major trophies during their pro careers: Ellsworth Vines, Hans Nüsslein and Don Budge.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Notwithstanding year when the US Open did not take place due to date clashes with the Paralympics. [clarification needed]
  2. ^ a b Until 2016, Wimbledon have never hosted singles tournament for wheelchairs.

References

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  14. ^ "Guinness world records". Retrieved 18 January 2015.
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  17. ^ Gibson, Owen (6 July 2013). "Bob and Mike Bryan complete the 'Golden Bryan Slam' at Wimbledon". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
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