If Novak Djokovic wins the US Open on Sunday, he will join a select circle of players, five to date, who achieved the tennis Grand Slam in singles (Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open) the same year.
The Serbian would be the second to triumph in the men’s competition in the Open era, which has brought together amateurs and professionals since 1968. But in women Margaret Court had succeeded in 1970 and Steffi Graf in 1988.
The German had also won the Olympic gold medal in Seoul that year, signing a Gold Slam, a feat never before accomplished or repeated until now.
Only Graf triumphed at the Grand Slam on three different types of surfaces (hard, clay and grass) as up to 1974 inclusive, the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open were played on grass and only Roland Garros on clay.
The Australian ‘Major’ has been played on hard court since 1988 and the US Open has been played on clay from 1975 to 1977 and on hard court since 1978.
In total, the Grand Slam has been achieved six times by five players:
– MENS
. Donald Budge (USA) in 1938 among fans
. Rod Laver (AUS) in 1962 among amateurs and in 1969 in the open era (professionals)
– WOMEN
. Maureen Connoly (USA) in 1953 among the fans
. Margaret Court (AUS) in 1970 was open
. Steffi Graf (GER) in 1988 was open
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