Grand Slam Tournaments in Tennis: History & Winners

If there is one ultimate destination in the world of tennis, it is the Grand Slam. There are only four such tournaments in a year – the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open – but these four titles often decide who the true kings and queens of tennis are. Different continents, different court surfaces, different weather conditions – and the player who performs consistently across all of this is the one who is remembered in history as a “great”.

What Are Grand Slams?

In tennis, Grand Slams are the group of the four biggest and most prestigious tournaments played across different countries and on different surfaces throughout the year. These four are:

• Australian Open – Melbourne (Australia), Hard court
• French Open / Roland Garros – Paris (France), Clay court
• Wimbledon – London (England), Grass court
• US Open – New York (USA), Hard court

There is also a second meaning of the term. If a player wins all four of these Grand Slam tournaments in the same calendar year, it is called a Calendar Grand Slam. If a player wins all four at least once over the course of an entire career, in different years, it is called a Career Grand Slam.

The greatness of players is often measured by how many Grand Slams they have won – for example Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and others.

The Four Grand Slams – Basic Information

1. Australian Open – The First Slam of the Year

• Venue – Melbourne Park, Melbourne (Australia)
• Surface – Hard court
• Usual time – Every year in January

This tournament began in 1905 as the Australasian Championships. It was originally played on grass, and later shifted to hard courts. Today, it is the first Grand Slam of the season, and the place from where the entire tennis year effectively begins.

For 2026, the main-draw dates are expected to be roughly from the third week of January up to 1 February 2026 (approximately 18 January–1 February 2026).

2. French Open / Roland Garros – The Real Test on Clay

• Venue – Stade Roland Garros, Paris (France)
• Surface – Red clay / Clay court
• Usual time – From the last week of May to early June

The French Open started in 1891 as a national tournament. From 1925 onwards, it became a fully open international Grand Slam. On clay, the ball travels slower and bounces higher, which is why the matches here involve long rallies and are physically very demanding.

For 2026, the expected dates are roughly 24 May to 7 June 2026.

3. Wimbledon – The Oldest and Most Traditional Tournament on Grass

• Venue – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London (UK)
• Surface – Grass court
• Usual time – From the last week of June to mid-July

Wimbledon started in 1877 and is considered the oldest tennis tournament in the world. Even today, traditions like the all-white dress code, Centre Court, the Royal Box and strawberries with cream are followed.

For 2026, the official “future dates” schedule Wimbledon from 29 June to 12 July 2026.

4. US Open – The Last and Loudest Grand Slam of the Season

• Venue – USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York (USA)
• Surface – Hard court
• Usual time – From the last Monday of August to the second week of September

The US Open began in 1881 as the U.S. National Championships. It was first played on grass, then for some time on clay, and finally shifted to hard courts. Today, it is known for fast tennis, electric night sessions and a very loud, energetic crowd.

The dates for US Open 2026 are approximately 31 August to 13 September 2026.

A Brief History of the Grand Slams

If we look at age and origin, the order is roughly:

• Wimbledon – since 1877
• US Championships (now the US Open) – since 1881
• French Championships (now the French Open) – since 1891
• Australasian / Australian Championships (now the Australian Open) – since 1905

In the early years, these tournaments were mostly national-level events – only players from that country or club could participate. Gradually, they opened up to the world and today, together they have become the “mega events” of tennis.

In 1968, tennis entered the Open Era, when for the first time professional players were allowed to compete alongside amateurs in these events. After this, prize money, TV coverage and popularity grew rapidly, and the Grand Slams truly became global brands.

Why Are Grand Slams So Special?

1. The biggest stage – These are the tournaments where players earn the most ranking points, highest prize money and the maximum global attention.
2. Different surfaces – Hard, clay and grass – playing on each surface demands a different skill set and adjustment. That is why a player who dominates across all four is considered a true all-round great.
3. Records and comparisons – A player’s “level” is often compared based on how many Grand Slams they have won, on which surfaces they have succeeded, and whether they have achieved a Calendar Slam or Career Slam.
4. Calendar Slam, Career Slam, Golden Slam
   • Calendar Slam – Winning all four Grand Slams in the same calendar year.
   • Career Slam – Winning all four Grand Slams at least once across an entire career, in any order.
   • Golden Slam – Winning all four Grand Slams plus an Olympic gold medal in the same year.

Grand Slam Winners of the Last 5 Years (2021–2025)

The table below lists only the singles champions (men and women)

These five years are the most frequently asked in many competitive exams (NDA, CDS, SSC, banking, state-level exams, etc.).

Do Grand Slams Take Place Every Year?

Yes, all four Grand Slams are held regularly every year.

• Australian Open – Every year in January
• French Open – Every year in May–June
• Wimbledon – Every year in June–July
• US Open – Every year in August–September

Only in very rare and major situations – such as wars or a large global crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic – has a tournament been cancelled or significantly rescheduled. Under normal circumstances, they are considered among the most stable events in the global sports calendar.

When Will the Grand Slams Be Played in 2026? (Short Schedule)

For 2026, the broadly expected dates are as follows:

• Australian Open 2026 – Approximately 18 January to 1 February 2026 (Melbourne, Hard court)
• French Open 2026 – Approximately 24 May to 7 June 2026 (Paris, Clay court)
• Wimbledon 2026 – 29 June to 12 July 2026 (London, Grass court)
• US Open 2026 – 31 August to 13 September 2026 (New York, Hard court)

Minor changes (like the exact qualifying dates, opening ceremony, etc.) are always possible, but the final week and main-draw period will broadly remain around these days.

Conclusion

For any tennis player, the Grand Slams are the highest step on the ladder of the sport. The fast hard-court rallies of the Australian Open, the dusty, grinding clay battles of the French Open, the class and tradition of grass at Wimbledon, and the loud, electric night sessions of the US Open – together, these four events turn the tennis season into four grand festivals that return year after year.

If you are preparing for any competitive exam or just want strong tennis general knowledge, you should firmly remember at least:

• The names, cities, countries and surfaces of all four Grand Slams
• Which months they are played in
• The men’s and women’s singles champions of the last 3–5 years
• And 1–2 key records – for example, who holds the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles

If you are clear on these points, you will be able to answer most questions related to Grand Slams quite comfortably.

FAQs – Common Questions on Grand Slam Tennis

1. What is the difference between a Grand Slam and a normal tennis tournament?

Grand Slams are the biggest tournaments in tennis. Their draws are larger (usually 128 players in singles), matches are longer (best-of-five sets for men’s singles, best-of-three for women’s singles), and both the prize money and ranking points are much higher. ATP 250, ATP 500, Masters 1000 and WTA tournaments are also important, but in terms of prestige and historical weight, Grand Slams stand at the very top.

2. Do the four Grand Slams take place at the same time every year?

Almost yes.

• The Australian Open is always at the start of the year in January.
• The French Open is played every year in May–June.
• Wimbledon is always held in June–July on grass.
• The US Open starts in the last week of August and continues till the second week of September.

Dates may shift by a day or two, but the month and order are almost always the same.

3. Who has won the most Grand Slam singles titles?

In men’s singles, Novak Djokovic is considered to hold the record with 24 Grand Slam singles titles. In women’s singles, historically Margaret Court has 24, and in the Open Era Serena Williams has 23 Grand Slam singles titles. That is why these three names are almost always mentioned whenever records are discussed.

4. What is the main difference in playing style on clay, grass and hard courts?

• Clay courts (French Open) – The ball travels slower and bounces higher; rallies are longer; sliding and high fitness levels are very important.
• Grass courts (Wimbledon) – The ball is faster and bounces lower; serve, volley and quick points become more common; points often end in one or two big shots.
• Hard courts (Australian Open, US Open) – These are a balanced surface between clay and grass; the bounce is regular and the speed is medium to fast; an all-round game works best here.

5. For exam preparation, what should I remember about Grand Slams?

If you are preparing for NDA, CDS, SSC, banking, railways or any GK-based exam, you should definitely remember:

1. The names + cities + countries + surfaces of all four Grand Slams.
2. In which months of the year each Grand Slam is played.
3. The latest year’s and the last few years’ men’s and women’s singles winners (like the 2021–2025 table above).
4. 2–3 important records – such as how many Grand Slam titles Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, etc., have won.

If you revise these points 2–3 times, you will be able to answer almost every standard question related to Grand Slams.

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