Every tennis player dreams of winning a grand slam title from the moment they pick up a racquet. While it is a challenging feat, a select few have dominated the biggest stages over the years.
Over the past two decades, certain players have etched their names in history by winning a record number of grand slam titles. As we head into 2024, the battle for these records continues with the upcoming Wimbledon championships.
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What are the four grand slam tournaments?
The four grand slam events held each year are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. Each tournament has its unique surface – clay for the French Open, grass for Wimbledon, and hard courts for the Australian Open and US Open.
Wimbledon, established in 1877, is the oldest grand slam event, followed by the US Open, French Open, and Australian Open.
Who holds the record for most grand slam titles?
Currently, Novak Djokovic and Margaret Court share the record for most grand slam singles titles.
In 2023, Djokovic secured his third Roland-Garros title, taking the lead in the men’s game after Rafael Nadal’s injury ruled him out of defending his title. Nadal had briefly held the record before Djokovic’s surge.
Swiss legend Roger Federer announced his retirement in 2022, while Nadal’s future in the sport remains uncertain. Serena Williams also stepped away from tennis after falling short in her last four grand slam finals.
Most grand slam titles won by a player: Men’s singles
| Player | Grand Slam titles |
|---|---|
| Novak Djokovic | 24 |
| Rafael Nadal | 22 |
*Active players are bolded
Most Grand Slam titles won by a player: Women’s singles
| Player | Grand Slam titles |
|---|---|
| Margaret Court | 24 |
| Serena Williams | 23 |
Who has achieved the Grand Slam and Golden Slam?
Don Budge and Rod Laver are the only men’s singles players to achieve a Grand Slam, while Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court, and Steffi Graf have accomplished this in women’s singles. Dylan Alcott completed a Grand Slam in wheelchair quad singles in 2021.
In addition to the Grand Slam, a Golden Slam includes winning Olympic gold in the same year. Steffi Graf was the first to achieve this in 1988, with wheelchair players Diede de Groot and Dylan Alcott replicating the feat.
