A Grand Slam

When talking sports, we always hear the expression Grand Slam, or Grand Slam champions, or the players with the most Grand Slam titles.  In baseball or softball, a Grand Slam is a home run with the bases loaded. But what exactly is a Grand Slam in other sports?

Generally speaking, a Grand Slam is winning all of the prestigious tournaments in a single year. The expression Grand Slam, initially used to describe the winning of the tennis major events, was later incorporated by other sports, notably golf, to describe a similar accomplishment.

 In tennis, the four Grand Slam tournaments are the most important events of the year in terms of world ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, and public attention. They include the following:

• Australian Open (January)
• French Open (Late May/Early June) Noteworthy for its style and elegance, the Roland Garros tournament is renowned for its long grueling matches and the slowness and high bounce of the red clay courts – a test of endurance for all players.
• Wimbledon (Late June/Early July) The most prestigious of the Grand Slam tournaments, the grass courts of Wimbledon are bathed in tradition.
• U.S. Open Played in Flushing Meadows, NY. (Late August/Early September)

Most Grand Slam women’s singles tennis titles in a row

• Maureen Connolly Brinker (6): (1952 Wimbledon through the 1953 U.S. Championships).
• Margaret Smith Court (6): (1969 U.S. Open through the 1971 Australian Open).
• Martina Navratilova (6): (1983 Wimbledon through the 1984 U.S. Open).

 Did You Know?

In the Academy Awards, a film is said to win the “Grand Slam” if it is awarded Oscars in the following five categories (the “Big Five”): Best Picture, Directing, Actor, Actress, and Writing.