Career Grand Slam Winners

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Sep 11, 2010

Career Grand Slam Winners

Roger Federer

By winning the French Open, Roger Federer joined a short list of players who have won all four majors. Here's a look at the rare few who have accomplished the Career Grand Slam. Federer, shown enjoying a little down time after defeating Robin Soderling in the final, became the sixth male to capture a career slam.

Serena Williams

After amassing a 56-5 record and eight singles titles, including three Grand Slams in 2002, Williams carried considerable momentum into the '03 campaign. With her 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 victory over elder sister Venus in the Australian Open final in January, Serena became the fifth woman in the Open era to complete a Career Grand Slam. Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.

Andre Agassi

Two years after dropping to No. 141 in the world, Agassi capped his return to the elite class with a comeback victory from two sets down in the French Open final against Andrei Medvedev. With the dramatic 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 triumph, Agassi became the fifth man to earn a Career Grand Slam -- and the only male player to complete the circuit on three different surfaces. (The previous four won on clay and grass only.)

Steffi Graf

Graf's victory over Gabriela Sabatini in the 1988 U.S. Open didn't just seal her Career Grand Slam. It completed only the third Grand Slam ever achieved in a calendar year. Weeks later at the Olympic Games in Seoul, Graf dispensed of Sabatini once again to win the gold medal -- thus achieving the so-called Golden Slam.

Martina Navratilova

With a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Chris Evert-Lloyd in the U.S. Open final, Navratilova completed a Career Grand Slam in her most dominant single season. The Czech native would finish the calendar year with a mind-boggling 86-1 record in singles matches.

Chris Evert

Evert had already collected 13 major singles titles by the time she completed her Career Slam with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Martina Navratilova in the 1982 Australian Open final.

Billie Jean King

At the 1972 French Open, King steamrolled through Virginia Wade in the quarters, Helga Niessen Masthoff in the semis and Evonne Goolagong in the final to nail down a Career Grand Slam. King didn't drop a single set on her way to the title. Many pundits insist the California native could have won the Grand Slam in the calendar year had she opted to play in the Australian Open.

Roy Emerson

Emerson, an Aussie who remains the only male player to win singles and doubles titles at all four major tournaments, completed his Career Grand Slam with a 6-4, 12-10, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Fred Stolle at Wimbledon in 1964.

Margaret Court

Court completed a Career Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 1963, dispensing of Billie Jean King in the final, 6-3, 6-4. Seven years later, the Australian would become the first woman in the Open Era to win all four majors in the same calendar year.

Rod Laver

Still playing as an amateur, Laver completed Grand Slams for a career and a calendar year with a 6-2, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Roy Emerson in the 1962 U.S. Open final. Seven years later, Laver would become the only player in history to twice complete Grand Slams in a calendar year, this time competing as a professional.

Shirley Fry Irvin

Irvin defeated Althea Gibson in straight sets to win the 1957 Australian Championships, achieving her Career Grand Slam. It proved to be the final major singles title of her career.

Doris Hart

In one of the most dramatic finishes in U.S. Open history, Hart saved a match point on her way to defeating Louise Brough Clapp in the 1954 U.S. Championships final. The 6-8, 6-1, 8-6 nail-biter wrapped up a Career Grand Slam for the St. Louis product.

Maureen Connolly

Connolly became the first woman to win the sport's four major tournaments with her victory in the final of the 1953 U.S. Championships, beating Hart to the distinction by one year.

Don Budge

With his convincing 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over Roderik Menzel in the final of the 1938 French Championships, Budge completed a Career Grand Slam and turned professional shortly thereafter.

Fred Perry

Perry completed the first Career Grand Slam with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Gottfried von Cramm in the final of the 1935 French Championships. Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.