The four Grand Slam events, also known as The Majors, are the most important annual tennis tournaments. This is because of the world ranking points players can earn, their tradition, the prize-money, and public and media attention. Each tournament is played over a period of two weeks beginning each year with the Australian Open in mid January, the French Open in May and June, Wimbledon in July, and the US Open in August and September.
Wimbledon was first competed in 1877. The inaugural Championship started at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London on July 9, 1877 and the Gentlemen's Singles was the only event held. It has been held there ever since.
The first Wimbledon Championship was won by Spencer Gore, an old Harrovian rackets player, from a field of 22. About 200 spectators paid one shilling each to watch the final.
The Wimbledon women's single and the men's doubles events began seven years later in 1884. First prize in the Women's single event, awarded to Maud Watson, was a silver flower-basket worth 20 guineas.
Rhode Island was the cradle of American tennis: when the United States National Championships (now the United States Open) were inaugurated in 1881, they were played on the lawns of the Newport Casino. Richard Sears won the men's singles at this tournament, which was the first of his seven consecutive singles titles.
Like Wimbledon, the United States Open became known by its location after it was moved to Forest Hills, New York, in 1915.
The French Championships began in 1891. Originally, they were only open to tennis players who were members of French clubs. The first winner was a Briton—H. Briggs—who was a Paris resident.
The French Open opened to non-French players for the first time in 1926.
The Australian Open was first played at the Warehouseman's Cricket Ground in Melbourne in November 1905. This facility is now known as the Albert Reserve Tennis Centre.
In 1938 the American, Don Budge became the first male tennis player to complete the Grand Slam in tennis of all four Championships.
The Open Era in tennis begun in 1968, when all the Grand Slam events opened to both amateurs and professionals for the first time.
The US Open led the way in equality: it awarded the men's and women's champions the same prize money in 1973.
The US Open tennis tournament was played on grass until 1975, when clay courts were installed to equalize Grand Slam competition.
In 1978 US Open moved to hard courts of the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.
Today, the French Open is known for being the only Grand Slam played on a clay court. The Australian and United States tournaments are played on hard courts, and Wimbledon on grass.
Before 1983, many of the best tennis players did not play at the Australian Open. This was because tournament was far away from Europe and North America and was not considered as important as the other Grand Slam tournaments.
Monica Seles and Martina Navratilova contested the 1991 women's US Open final. Their 17-year age gap is the biggest in the history of Grand Slam finalists.
The Australian Open holds the record for the highest attendance at a Grand Slam event, with 743,667 people attending the 2018 tournament.
Novak Djokovic is the only player to beat Roger Federer in all four Grand Slam events. (Australian Open, French Open, US Open and Wimbledon).
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| Margaret Court Arena at the Australian Open. |
Wimbledon was first competed in 1877. The inaugural Championship started at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London on July 9, 1877 and the Gentlemen's Singles was the only event held. It has been held there ever since.
The first Wimbledon Championship was won by Spencer Gore, an old Harrovian rackets player, from a field of 22. About 200 spectators paid one shilling each to watch the final.
The Wimbledon women's single and the men's doubles events began seven years later in 1884. First prize in the Women's single event, awarded to Maud Watson, was a silver flower-basket worth 20 guineas.
 |
| Ladies Championship, 1884 |
Rhode Island was the cradle of American tennis: when the United States National Championships (now the United States Open) were inaugurated in 1881, they were played on the lawns of the Newport Casino. Richard Sears won the men's singles at this tournament, which was the first of his seven consecutive singles titles.
 |
| Semifinal at the 1890 US Tennis Championships at Newport |
Like Wimbledon, the United States Open became known by its location after it was moved to Forest Hills, New York, in 1915.
The French Championships began in 1891. Originally, they were only open to tennis players who were members of French clubs. The first winner was a Briton—H. Briggs—who was a Paris resident.
The French Open opened to non-French players for the first time in 1926.
The Australian Open was first played at the Warehouseman's Cricket Ground in Melbourne in November 1905. This facility is now known as the Albert Reserve Tennis Centre.
In 1938 the American, Don Budge became the first male tennis player to complete the Grand Slam in tennis of all four Championships.
 |
| Don Budge at the White City Stadium, Sydney in December 1937 |
The Open Era in tennis begun in 1968, when all the Grand Slam events opened to both amateurs and professionals for the first time.
The US Open led the way in equality: it awarded the men's and women's champions the same prize money in 1973.
The US Open tennis tournament was played on grass until 1975, when clay courts were installed to equalize Grand Slam competition.
In 1978 US Open moved to hard courts of the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.
Today, the French Open is known for being the only Grand Slam played on a clay court. The Australian and United States tournaments are played on hard courts, and Wimbledon on grass.
Before 1983, many of the best tennis players did not play at the Australian Open. This was because tournament was far away from Europe and North America and was not considered as important as the other Grand Slam tournaments.
Monica Seles and Martina Navratilova contested the 1991 women's US Open final. Their 17-year age gap is the biggest in the history of Grand Slam finalists.
The Australian Open holds the record for the highest attendance at a Grand Slam event, with 743,667 people attending the 2018 tournament.
Novak Djokovic is the only player to beat Roger Federer in all four Grand Slam events. (Australian Open, French Open, US Open and Wimbledon).
Source Compton's Encyclopaedia
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