Grand Slam tennis tournaments refer to four different tennis tournaments: The French Open, Wimbledon, The US Open and The Australian Open.

They are called Grand Slams because in 1938 Don Budge won all four tournaments. The term originated from American writer Allison Danzig, who wrote that like a bridge player, Budge scored a ‘Grand Slam’ of victories.

The phrase started to become popular, but the Grand Slam events were in no way affiliated with one another until in 1989 when a committee was formed. This committee now forms the rules of all four Grand Slam tournaments.

Pete Sampras has won the most singles men’s Grand Slam titles with 14 titles total. Sampras, however, never did win a French Open title. Margaret Court has won the most on the ladies side with 24 titles to her name.

Only two men have won all four events in one year, Budge in 1938 and Rod Laver in 1962 and 1969. Three women have taken all four titles in one year, they are: Maureen Connolly in 1963, Margaret Court in 1970 and Steffi Graff in 1988. Graff also went on that year to win a gold medal in the 1988 Seoul Olympics; her 1988 season is referred to as “The Golden Grand Slam.”