Tennis

Grand Slam Records: The Greatest Champions in Tennis History

Winning a Grand Slam title is every tennis player’s dream from the moment they first pick up a racket. Here are the greatest champions in history.

While winning one is a huge achievement, only a few players have consistently dominated the sport’s biggest tournaments.

Over the past two decades, some players have cemented their place in history by winning a record number of Grand Slam titles. In 2025, the battle for these records continues, with Roland-Garros up next.

What are the Four Grand Slam Tournaments?

Each year, four Grand Slam tournaments take place in the following order:

  • Australian Open
  • French Open
  • Wimbledon
  • US Open

The French Open is played on clay, Wimbledon on grass, while the Australian Open and US Open are held on hard courts.

Wimbledon is the oldest Grand Slam event, first played in 1877. It was followed by the US Open in 1881, the French Open in 1891, and the Australian Open in 1905.

Who Has Won the Most Grand Slam Titles?

Novak Djokovic and Margaret Court hold the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles, with 24 each.

Djokovic took the outright lead in men’s tennis when he won the 2023 French Open, taking advantage of Rafael Nadal’s absence due to injury.

Nadal had previously set the men’s singles record by surpassing Roger Federer and Djokovic with his 2022 Australian Open victory. He extended his lead at the French Open that year before Djokovic closed the gap by winning Wimbledon.

In 2023, Djokovic equalled Nadal’s tally by winning the Australian Open, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. He then lost a thrilling five-set Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz but made history by winning the US Open against Daniil Medvedev. That victory gave him 24 Grand Slam titles, matching Court’s long-standing record.

Swiss legend Federer retired after the 2022 Laver Cup, and Nadal also stepped away from professional tennis after the 2024 Davis Cup, meaning Djokovic’s record is unlikely to be challenged.

On the women’s side, Serena Williams had a chance to equal Court’s record but lost her last four Grand Slam finals before retiring.

Men’s Singles: Most Grand Slam Titles

Player Grand Slam Titles
Novak Djokovic 24
Rafael Nadal 22
Roger Federer 20
Pete Sampras 14
Roy Emerson 12
Rod Laver 11
Bjorn Borg 11
Bill Tilden 10
Jimmy Connors 8
Fred Perry 8
Andre Agassi 8
Ivan Lendl 8
Ken Rosewall 8

Women’s Singles: Most Grand Slam Titles

Player Grand Slam Titles
Margaret Court 24
Serena Williams 23
Steffi Graf 22
Helen Wills 19
Chris Evert 18
Martina Navratilova 18
Billie Jean King 12
Maureen Connolly 9
Monica Seles 9
Suzanne Lenglen 8
Molla Mallory 8

Who Has Won All Four Grand Slams in the Same Year?

Winning all four Grand Slam tournaments in a single year is known as completing a Grand Slam. It is one of the rarest achievements in tennis.

American Don Budge was the first to do so in 1938, and Australian Rod Laver remains the only other men’s singles player to repeat the feat.

Maureen Connolly became the first woman to achieve a Grand Slam in 1953, followed by Margaret Court and Steffi Graf.

What is a Golden Slam?

A Golden Slam is even rarer, requiring a player to win all four Grand Slams plus an Olympic gold medal in the same year.

Steffi Graf is the only player to achieve this in singles tennis, completing her Golden Slam in 1988. In wheelchair tennis, Diede de Groot and Dylan Alcott have also accomplished the feat.

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