4 Grand Slam Tours Completed
The four most important annual professional tennis tournaments, offering the most ranking points, prize money, and public attention.
The Grand Slam in tennis is the achievement of winning all four major championships in one discipline in a calendar year. In doubles, a Grand Slam may be achieved as a team or as an individual with different partners. Winning all four major championships consecutively but not within the same calendar year is referred to as a 'non-calendar-year Grand Slam', while winning the four majors at any point during the course of a career is known as a 'Career Grand Slam'.
- Total Completed
- 4
- First Achievement Year
- 1905
- Most Recent Completion
- 2010
- Defining Rivalries
- England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales
- Touring Context
- Southern Hemisphere vs. Northern Hemisphere
- Status
- Active Record
Lore & Background
The term 'Grand Slam' originates from the card game contract bridge, where it is used for winning all possible tricks. In golf it was used for the first time to describe a total of four wins, specifically Bobby Jones' achievement of winning the four major golf tournaments of the era, which he accomplished in 1930. The first player to win all four majors in a calendar year and thus complete a Grand Slam was Don Budge in 1938.
In Their Own Story
The rain lashed against the stands at Twickenham, but the silence on the pitch was absolute. The final whistle had just blown, confirming the fourth time. A veteran forward looked up at the grey sky, his chest heaving, realizing that for this one fleeting moment, they had conquered every fortress in the north. The roar of the distant home crowd faded into a hum as the black jersey stood tall against the white line, a solitary monument to four perfect tours.
Reader's Guide
The Grand Slam tournaments are the Australian Open in January, the French Open in late May to early June, Wimbledon in late June to early July, and the US Open in late August to early September, with each played over two weeks. The Australian and the US tournaments are played on hard courts, the French on clay court, and Wimbledon on grass court. Wimbledon is the oldest tournament, founded in 1877, followed by the US in 1881, the French in 1891 (major in 1925), and the Australian in 1905, but it was not until 1923 that all four were designated as 'Official Championships'.
Did You Know?
- The term 'Grand Slam' was first used in tennis by sports columnist Alan J. Gould in 1933, describing Jack Crawford's potential feat of winning all four major tournaments.
- The first open Grand Slam tournament was the 1968 French Open, held after the start of the Open Era.
- Anthony Wilding of New Zealand won all three World Championships (Grass, Hard Court, and Covered Court) in 1913.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a completed Grand Slam tour?
A tour counts when the All Blacks defeat all four Home Nations—England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales—in one campaign. France is often part of the journey but does not factor into this specific historical definition.
When did New Zealand first complete a Grand Slam tour?
The team achieved this milestone for the very first time during their historic 1905 overseas expedition. This initial success laid the foundation for the four total completions recognized as an active record.
Which opponents must be beaten to earn this honor?
Victories are required against England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales within a single touring period. Missing a win against any of these traditional rivals prevents the tour from being classified as a Grand Slam.
When was the last time this record was updated?
The most recent completion took place in 2010, marking the fourth time the feat has been accomplished throughout history. No other team has matched this specific number of successful northern hemisphere campaigns.
Why is having four completed tours significant?
It demonstrates an unbreakable legacy of dominance over the northern hemisphere's traditional rivals across different eras. This active record stands as a pinnacle achievement that underscores the All Blacks' consistent international superiority.
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