Every tennis player’s ambition is to win the calendar Grand Slam tournaments. In order to do so, a player must win the four major tournaments – Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open – over the course of a year. But the goal became virtually impossible to achieve after 1968, when the Open era began. After that event, professionals and amateurs were equalised. Only two athletes managed to collect all the necessary Grand Slam titles in a single season. Don Budge won the coveted award in 1938, while Rod Laver managed to distinguish himself twice – in 1962, 1969.
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Hence, a career Grand Slam appeared in tennis – you have to win all the major tournaments during your entire sporting career. Eight athletes were able to do this.
The number of Grand Slam tournaments won was taken into account when ranking successful tennis players.
No. 8 – Don Budge
The tennis player of Scottish origin from America dates back to 11.06.1915-26.01.2000. Goes down in the history of tennis as the first man to win a Grand Slam title. He won the coveted title in 1938.
Achievements:
- six-time winner of Grand Slam tournaments. Wimbledon and US Open titles in 1937 and 1938. Winner of the Australian Open and Roland Garros in 1938.
- He is the youngest tennis player ever to win a Grand Slam. Has won all tournaments at age 23.
- Moved from amateur to professional league at the age of 24.
7th place – Fred Perry
English tennis player born on May 18, 1909 and died on February 2, 1995.
Achievements:
- Eight-time winner of Grand Slam tournaments. In 1934-1936. – Wimbledon. 1933, 1934 and 1936. – US Open. In 1934, the Australian Open. 1935 – Roland Garros.
- In 1929, wins the World Table Tennis Championship.
- He enters the professional league at the age of 27.
6th place – Andre Agassi.
American tennis player with Armenian, Iranian roots, born 29 April 1970.
His achievements:
- First-ranked player to win a Golden Slam in his career. Besides winning all the Grand Slam tournaments, he became Olympic Champion in tennis in 1996.
- An eight-time winner of Grand Slam tournaments. 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2003. – Australian Open. 1994, 1999 – US Open. – US Open. Wimbledon in 1992, won Roland Garros in 1999. 3.
- In 2003, became the oldest athlete to reach the top position in the ATP rankings.
- Most popular tennis player at the end of the last century, was actively involved in charity work.
Won 60 tournaments during his career.
5th place – Rod Laver
Australian tennis player, born August 9, 1938.
Achievements:
- First won Australian Open at 22, Wimbledon at 23.
- Eleven-time winner of Grand Slam tournaments. Wimbledon in 1961, 1962, 1968, 1969. The Australian Open in 1960, 1962, 1969. Roland Garros in 1962 and 1969. US Open in 1962, 1969 3.
The only player to ever collect a Grand Slam twice, in 1962 and 1969.
The only tennis player who managed to collect a Grand Slam in the Open era.
4th place – Roy Emerson
Australian, born on November 3, 1936. The leading amateur tennis player of his time, all the other top players at the time were in the pro category.
Twelve-time winner of Grand Slam tournaments – until 2000, the all-time record:
- In 1961, 1963-1967. – Australian Open.
- the Wimbledon in 1964, 1965.
- the Roland Garros in 1963, 1967.
US Open in 1961, 1964.
3rd place – Novak Djokovic
The Serbian tennis player, born on May 22, 1987, first won the Australian Open at the age of 21. Currently considered one of the best and strongest tennis players.
Twenty times winner of Grand Slam tournaments:
- Australian Open – 2008, 2011-2013, 2015, 2016, 2019-2021.
- Wimbledon – 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021.
US Open – 2011, 2015, 2018.
Roland Garros – 2016, 2021.
Novak holds the record among men’s tennis players for the most wins at the Australian Open. He has held the top spot in the ATP rankings for the longest time. He has won 86 tournaments in his entire career. He holds the absolute record for the amount of prize money – $154m.
2nd place – Roger Federer
Swiss athlete, born August 8, 1981. He won Wimbledon for the first time at the age of 22 and has won the tournament 5 times in a row, which is a record. He’s also won the US Open five times. He won the Davis Cup with the Swiss team. In 2008, he won gold at the Olympic Games in doubles.
Twenty times winner of Grand Slam tournaments:
- Wimbledon – 2003-2007, 2009, 2012, 2017.
- Australian Open – 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018.
- US Open – 2004-2008.
- Roland Garros – 2009.
During his career he won 103 singles tournaments and 8 doubles titles, earning more than $130m in prize money. Many tennis experts consider Federer to be the best tennis player in the world since the sport’s inception.
Roger had his own style of play. He was often rewarded for his fair play.
1st place – Rafael Nadal
Spanish tennis player, born on June 3, 1986. First won Grand Slam tournaments at age 19. He has won 62 Grand Slam tournaments on clay, an all-time record.
He has won 21 Grand Slam tournaments:
- Roland Garros – 2005-2008, 2010-2014, 2017-2020.
- Wimbledon – 2008, 2010.
- Australian Open – 2009, 2022.
- US Open – 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019.
The Spanish tennis player holds the record for the most wins at Roland Garros among men. Nadal became the second player in the history of tennis to win a Golden Slam. He is the 2008 Olympic tennis champion.
His list of victories in 90 tournaments and prize money totals $128 million. Not included in the rankings is Jimmy Connors, who holds the record for the most wins in Open tournaments. He has 109 wins. But he never managed to conquer Roland Garros in his entire career.
