Grand Slam Tennis: History, Schedules & Key Facts | ABEMA

The four major tennis tournaments, commonly known as the Grand Slam, are the pinnacle that tennis players around the world aim for. Dramatic and heated battles will take place on four stages: the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon (All England), and the United States. This page provides a thorough explanation of the timing of the four major tournaments that shape the history of tennis, the characteristics of the different courts, and the latest progress of Japanese players.

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The season begins in the scorching heat of Australia! The Australian Open, held in Melbourne under the bright summer sun, is the first Grand Slam tournament held every January. The sense of speed that is unique to hard courts and the unexpected ups and downs that can only occur right after the start of the season create heated competitions that will determine the course of the year.

Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Event period: Approximately 2 weeks from mid-January every year (immediately after the season begins)
History: Although it is the youngest of the four major tournaments (Grand Slams), it has undergone significant evolution in recent years.
Main events: Men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles, junior division, wheelchair division, etc. will be held in all categories.
Coat: “Blue” hard coat

The hard courts on which the players compete in this tournament have different characteristics from other clay courts and grass courts, and their tactics are also worth paying attention to.

Introducing the unique charm that sets the Australian Open apart from other Grand Slams. Let’s unravel the reason why it’s called “Happy Slam.”

Unlike other tournaments that are held in winter in the northern hemisphere, Australia in the southern hemisphere is in midsummer! The matches, which are held in extreme heat that sometimes exceeds 40 degrees Celsius, are a battle of extreme physical and mental strength. These harsh conditions are one of the factors that create such dramatic matches.

The Australian Open court is known for having relatively fast balls even among hard courts, and is characterized by speedy and aggressive play. Additionally, the bright blue color looks great on TV, making the tournament visually enjoyable.

Melbourne Park, the tournament venue, boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including three courts with retractable roofs. This minimizes interruptions caused by rain or extreme heat, providing a comfortable viewing environment. It is also a tournament that always leads the entertainment industry in the tennis world.

The Australian Open is a historic tournament that was first held in 1905. In particular, the tennis world has undergone major changes since the opening of the sport to professionals.

The venue was not fixed, and the event moved around Australia and New Zealand.

The venue has been fixed in Melbourne.

The tournament was moved to its current venue, Melbourne Park, and the surface was changed from grass to hard court. This increased the number of players participating and established its international status.

The French Open (Roland Garros), known as the “Festival of Red Clay,” is the second round of the Grand Slam, held every year from late May to early June. The unique tactics of clay courts, which are different from hard courts and grass courts, and the developments that test tenacity excite tennis fans.

Text: Venue: Stade Roland Garros, Paris, France
Event period: Approximately 2 weeks from late May every year (2nd race of the season)
History: First held as a national championship in 1891. It is one of the Grand Slam tournaments that respects tradition and formality the most.
Main events: Men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles, junior division, wheelchair division, etc. will be held in all categories.
Court: “Red clay” clay court

The clay courts on which the players compete in this tournament are characterized by slow pitches and high ball bounces, requiring precise tactics and ultimate stamina.

Introducing the unique charm of the French Open that sets it apart from other Grand Slams. Let’s unravel the reason why it is called “the essence of clay court”.

The biggest feature of the French Open is that it is the only tournament among the four major tournaments that uses red clay. This court absorbs the momentum of the ball, making rallies last longer. It can be said to be the most grueling Grand Slam event, with fierce battles sometimes lasting over four hours, testing the limits of the players’ physical and mental strength.

On clay courts, where the ball is slow, high-speed serves and strong hits are less decisive than on other courts. Instead, delicate techniques such as drop shots and deep spin balls, precise course reading, and tactical maneuvering are important. The appeal is a profound mental battle where high tennis IQ determines victory or defeat.

Athletes who conquer this harsh clay court are praised as “crakings.” In particular, Rafael Nadal is a symbol of the history of the tournament, having won 14 times, the most in the tournament’s history. The atmosphere is also appealing, with a sense of formal French tradition, such as announcements in French throughout the venue.

The French Open has gone through many changes since it was first held in 1891. Especially since the tennis world opened up to professionals, its status and scale have remained constant.

In the early years, it was held as a national championship in which only French athletes could participate.

Open as an international tournament. Athletes from all over the world, including professionals, can participate, and it has established itself as one of the four major tournaments.

The event was moved to its current venue, the Stade Roland Garros, and the name became the symbol of the tournament. With this move, the tournament will be held on clay courts.

The prestigious Wimbledon Championships is the third round of the Grand Slam, held every year from late June to early July. The ultra-high-speed tennis unique to grass courts and the compulsory white clothing for players create an elegance and tension unlike any other tournament.

Venue: All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England
Event period: Approximately 2 weeks from late June every year (3rd race of the season)
History: Founded in 1877. It boasts the world’s oldest existing tennis tournament and is truly the origin of tennis.
Main events: All categories will be held, including men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
Court: “Natural grass” grass court

The grass courts on which the players compete in this tournament are characterized by low and fast ball bounce, and accurate volleys and footwork are the difference between victory and defeat.

*Wimbledon will not be streamed on ABEMA de WOWSPO.

Introducing the unique charm that sets Wimbledon apart from other Grand Slams. Let’s find out why it’s called the “Holy Land of Tennis.”

Wimbledon’s most distinctive feature is its strict dress code, which requires players to wear all white. This is a symbol of the tournament’s respect for tradition and formality, and the contrast of white against the green grass creates an elegant atmosphere. Watching the Royal Family is also a tradition.

It will be the only “natural grass (grass court)” used in the four major tournaments. On grass courts, the bounce is low and the ball is fast, so aggressive play that combines high-speed serves and net play is required. This is the fastest tennis game, where split-second decisions and techniques shine.

Players who demonstrated their strength at Wimbledon will go down in history as “turf specialists.” In particular, Roger Federer’s record eight wins are symbolic. The outstanding technique and style of play on the grass courts is one of the highlights for many tennis fans.

Since Wimbledon was first held in 1877, it has continued to evolve while preserving its traditions. In particular, capital investment in recent years has been remarkable.

Initially, the tournament was centered around amateur British athletes, but the high quality of the competition has established it as an international event.

Introducing the “openness” of the tennis world. As a result, the ban on participation of professional athletes was lifted, making it the world’s premier tournament in both name and reality.

A retractable roof has been completed on the center court. This has greatly reduced the number of game interruptions due to rain, made it possible to hold games at night, and dramatically improved the viewing environment.

The US Open, known as the “New York craze,” is the final Grand Slam tournament held every year from late August to early September. The ultra-aggressive play unique to hard courts and the open atmosphere attract tennis fans from all over the world.

Venue: Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, USA
Event period: Approximately 2 weeks from late August every year (season finale)
History: First held in 1881. It is characterized by a free spirit that constantly incorporates innovative experiments.
Main events: Men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles, junior division, wheelchair division, etc. will be held in all categories.
Coat: “Blue” hard coat

The hard court on which the players compete in this tournament is characterized by the need for fast balls and toughness under harsh weather conditions, with power and stamina determining the difference between victory and defeat.

Introducing the unique charm that sets the US Open apart from other Grand Slams. Let’s unravel the reason why it is called the “Grand Slam of Innovation.”

The most distinctive feature of the US Open is its spectacular entertainment quality. During the night session, games are played amid loud cheers and lights, creating a festive atmosphere. This enthusiastic atmosphere provides great pressure and motivation for the players.

Among the hard courts used in the four major tournaments, the court at the US Open is set up to allow for relatively fast balls. This results in aggressive and speedy tennis, with fast serves and powerful forehands as weapons. Combined with the fatigue from consecutive battles, your toughness will be especially tested.

The US Open is the first of the four major tournaments to have equal prize money for men and women. This is due to the efforts of legends such as Billie Jean King, and the spirit of always pursuing fairness and innovation is at the heart of the tournament. They are also proactive about new technology and rules.

The US Open is the Grand Slam that has undergone the most modern evolution while preserving the traditions of the tennis world.

In the early days, it was held on a grass court. The venue also moved around, including Newport, Rhode Island.

For the first time in the Grand Slam tournament, the winning prize money for men and women is the same. It was a milestone in the history of equality in tennis.

Moved to current venue, Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The current format of the US Open was established by changing the surface to a hard court. In recent years, large-scale renovations have been underway, including the installation of a retractable roof on the main court.