The term “Grand Slam” in tennis is often used imprecisely. This article clarifies the true meaning of a Grand Slam, who has achieved this incredible feat, and the related concept of a Career Grand Slam.
Defining the Grand Slam in Tennis
In tennis, a player achieves a “Grand Slam” by winning all four major championships – the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open – in a single calendar year. This is distinct from winning these tournaments across multiple years, which is referred to as a “Career Grand Slam.”
The colloquial use of “Grand Slam” to describe the four major tournaments themselves or winning all four over several years is technically incorrect. While “Grand Slam titles” can refer to winning one of the four championships, winning the “Grand Slam” specifically means securing all four in the same year.
Players Who Have Achieved the Grand Slam
Only a select few singles players have accomplished the elusive Grand Slam.
Here’s a list of singles players who have won the Grand Slam:
- Don Budge, U.S. (1938)
- Maureen Connolly, U.S. (1953)
- Rod Laver, Australia (1962 and 1969) – The only player to achieve it twice.
- Margaret Smith Court, Australia (1970)
- Steffi Graf, Germany (1988)
Several doubles partners have also achieved a Grand Slam:
- Frank Sedgman and Ken McGregor, Australia (1951)
- Maria Bueno, Brazil (played with both Dalene Hard and Christine Truman in 1960)
- Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver, U.S. (1984)
- Martina Navratilova, Switzerland (played with both Mirjana Lucic and Jana Novotná in 1998)
These players have won a Grand Slam in mixed doubles:
- Margaret Smith and Ken Fletcher, Australia (1963)
- Owen Davidson, Australia (played with both Lesley Turner Bowrey and Billie Jean King in 1967)
Notably, some players have come agonizingly close to a Grand Slam, winning the first three majors of the year but falling short at the U.S. Open. This includes Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Lew Hoad, and Jack Crawford.
Understanding the Career Grand Slam
A Career Grand Slam is achieved when a tennis player wins all four major championships sometime during their career, although not necessarily within the same calendar year.
The following men’s singles players have achieved a Career Grand Slam:
- Fred Perry, England
- Don Budge, U.S.
- Rod Laver, Australia
- Roy Emerson, Australia
- Andre Agassi, U.S.
- Roger Federer, Switzerland
- Rafael Nadal, Spain
- Novak Djokovic, Serbia
These women’s singles players have achieved a Career Grand Slam:
- Maureen Connolly Brinker, U.S.
- Doris Hart, U.S.
- Shirley Fry Irvin, U.S.
- Margaret Smith Court, Australia
- Billie Jean King, U.S.
- Chris Evert, U.S.
- Martina Navratilova, U.S.
- Steffi Graf, Germany
- Serena Williams, U.S.
- Maria Sharapova, Russia
Prize Money at Grand Slam Tournaments
The financial rewards for winning Grand Slam tournaments are substantial. Here are some prize money examples from recent years:
- U.S. Open singles champion: $2.6 million (2022)
- U.S. Open doubles team: $688,000 (2022)
- Australian Open singles champion: $2.98 million (2023)
- Australian Open doubles team: $695,000 (2023)
- Wimbledon singles champions: $1.7 million (2021)
- Wimbledon doubles team: $480,000 (2021)
- French Open singles champions: $2.2 million (2022)
- French Open doubles team: approximately $623,000 (2022)
In Conclusion
The Grand Slam represents the pinnacle of achievement in tennis, a testament to a player’s skill, endurance, and mental fortitude. While the Career Grand Slam is also a significant accomplishment, the true Grand Slam – winning all four majors in a single year – remains one of the rarest and most celebrated feats in the sport.
