Tennis
Who Has the Most Grand Slam Titles in Tennis History?
24 Grand Slams, that’s how many both Novak Djokovic and Margaret Court have won. They currently hold the record for the most tennis grand slams won!
The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup//Getty Images
Novak Djokovic and Margaret Court, at the time of writing, hold the record for the most tennis grand slam singles titles. They have each won 24 slams in their respective careers!
Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev, in straight sets, at the US open in 2023. This saw him claim a third calendar slam that year and draw level with Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 titles.
The sport of tennis sees four Grand Slams played a year. The Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
The Australian Open – The First of the Year
Margaret Court//Getty Images
The Australian Open takes place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, and began back in 1905. Often dubbed the ‘Happy Slam’ summer in the southern hemisphere is often highlighted by the action in Melbourne.
Margaret Court holds the all-time Australian Open record with 11 titles to her name.
Roland-Garros – The French Open
The French Open was started in 1925 and is hosted at the Roland-Garros in Paris. Traditionally played on clay, the French Open often merges elegant fashion with a rustic and dusty court experience!
The undisputed King of Clay, Rafa Nadal, has won this title a mammoth 14 times. Not only is this a record in France, but indeed for any player (male or female) in any major tournament. Furthermore, he also holds the record for the most consecutive wins in the Open Era – dominating the clay from 2010 to 2014.
Wimbledon – A truly classy affair…
Wimbledon is the oldest slam of them all, dating back to 1877. It is held at the All England Club in London and is widely considered the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. The grassy surface, all-white dress code and celebrity appearances all make for a true spectacle of sporting entertainment. Oh, don’t forget the strawberries and cream, they are likely the most important part!
Although often associated with Roger Federer – who does hold the male record of 8 titles – it is Martina Navratilova who holds the record for the most titles won at Wimbledon. Navratilova has won 9 titles on Centre Court and is therefore the most successful player in Wimbledon history.
Good Ol’ Flushing Meadows
The US Open began in 1968 and is held at Flushing Meadows in New York City. Arthur Ashe was famously the first winner of the American Slam and the feature stadium at Flushing Meadows now bears his name.
There is a three-way split for the most titles won at the US Open, Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer have all won the championship on five occasions.
Has Anyone Won All Four in a Calendar Year?
Winning just one Grand Slam is often a players dream, but to win all four in a calendar year is just other worldly. Don Budge was the first to achieve this incredible feat in 1938, with Rod Laver from Australia being the only other men’s player to repeat it.
However, it is the women who dominate in this arena. Maureen Connolly became the first to do it back in 1953, before seeing Margaret Court and Steffi Graf repeating her achievement.
Steffi Graf would take this up a level further by adding an Olympic Gold medal to her calendar slam – hence the creation of a ‘Golden Slam’!
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