Tennis has four Grand Slam tournaments, also called the majors: the Australian Open in Melbourne in January on hard courts, the French Open or Roland-Garros in Paris from late May to early June on red clay, Wimbledon in London from late June to July on grass, and the US Open in New York from late August to September on hard courts. They are the most prestigious events in tennis, offering the most ranking points, the biggest prize money and the largest global audiences. Winning all four in the same calendar year is called a calendar Grand Slam, one of the rarest achievements in sport. This guide explains each major, how they differ, their formats, key history, what the different Grand Slam achievements mean, how to follow or attend them, and common misconceptions.
Rulebook note: The majors play under the ITF Rules of Tennis plus their own regulations, which cover formats, scheduling, dress codes, coaching and tiebreak rules. These regulations have changed over time, including final-set formats, so check each tournament’s current rules for details.
The four majors at a glance
| Tournament | Location | Surface | Timing | First held |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | Melbourne | Hard court | January | 1905 |
| French Open (Roland-Garros) | Paris | Red clay | Late May to early June | 1891 |
| Wimbledon | London | Grass | Late June to July | 1877 |
| US Open | New York | Hard court | Late August to September | 1881 |
Australian Open
The Australian Open opens the Grand Slam season each January at Melbourne Park. It began in 1905 as the Australasian Championships. It was played on grass for most of its history before moving to hard courts in 1988, when it also moved to its current venue. Summer heat in Melbourne is a well-known challenge, and the tournament has a heat policy along with courts that have retractable roofs. Many players see it as a chance to start the season strongly after the off-season.
French Open (Roland-Garros)
Roland-Garros is played at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris and is the only major on clay. The first French championships were held in 1891, initially limited to members of French clubs, and the event opened to international players in 1925. Clay slows the ball and produces a higher bounce, which rewards patience, movement, spin and endurance. Long rallies and sliding footwork are hallmarks of the tournament, and many consider it the most physically demanding major.
Wimbledon
Wimbledon, held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, is the oldest tennis tournament, first played in 1877. It is the only major played on grass, where the ball tends to stay low and move quickly, rewarding strong serves, net play and slices. Wimbledon is known for its traditions, including a strict predominantly white dress code for players. Its Centre Court has had a retractable roof since 2009.
US Open
The US Open is held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. It began in 1881 as the US National Championships. The tournament has been played on grass, then briefly on clay, and has been on hard courts since 1978. It is known for night sessions, large crowds and an energetic atmosphere. Its main stadium, Arthur Ashe Stadium, is one of the largest tennis venues in the world.
Formats
At the majors, men’s singles matches are best of five sets, while women’s singles matches are best of three sets. Singles draws typically include 128 players, with qualifying tournaments held beforehand. Each major also includes men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles, junior events and wheelchair events. In recent years, all four majors have used a 10-point tiebreak at 6-6 in the final set, after years of different final-set rules at each event.
How surfaces shape the majors
The surfaces make each major unique. Clay at Roland-Garros is the slowest, with high bounces that favor defense and spin. Grass at Wimbledon is generally the fastest, with low bounces that favor attacking play. The hard courts in Melbourne and New York usually sit in between, although speed varies by year and conditions. Players who win on all surfaces are especially respected because they have adapted their games to very different conditions.
Grand Slam achievements
A calendar Grand Slam means winning all four majors in the same year. In men’s singles, Don Budge achieved it in 1938 and Rod Laver in 1962 and 1969. In women’s singles, Maureen Connolly did it in 1953, Margaret Court in 1970 and Steffi Graf in 1988, when she also won Olympic gold, a feat often called the Golden Slam. A career Grand Slam means winning all four majors at some point in a career, not necessarily in the same year. Other players have achieved calendar Grand Slams in doubles and wheelchair tennis.
The Open Era and the majors
Before 1968, the majors were limited to amateur players, and many of the best professionals could not compete. The Open Era, which began in 1968, allowed professionals and amateurs to play together, and the majors quickly became the central events of professional tennis. Since then, prize money, media coverage and global interest have grown enormously. Records set in the Open Era, such as the number of major titles won by a player, are often discussed separately from earlier records because the competitive conditions were so different.
Ranking points and prize money
The majors award the most ranking points of any regular tournaments on the professional tours, so results at these events have a big effect on rankings. They also offer the largest prize money, with equal prize money for men and women at all four majors. Qualifying and early-round players also receive prize money, which helps support players throughout the sport.
Step-by-step: following or attending a major
- Check the dates and schedule for each tournament.
- Learn the format for singles, doubles and other events.
- Buy tickets through official channels, since popular sessions sell out.
- Plan for weather, such as heat in Melbourne and New York or rain in London.
- Review venue rules for bags, cameras and conduct.
- Explore outer courts during early rounds for close views.
- Follow live scores through official apps or websites.
Watching etiquette at the majors
Spectators are expected to stay quiet during points and move only at changeovers or between points. Applaud good play from both players. Follow the ushers’ instructions about entering and leaving seats. Each venue has its own rules, and Wimbledon in particular is known for traditional etiquette. Respecting these customs helps players perform and makes the experience better for everyone.
Common misconceptions
- All majors use the same surface: They use hard courts, clay and grass.
- Women play best of five at majors: Women’s singles are best of three sets.
- The Olympics is a Grand Slam event: It is not one of the four majors.
- Grand Slam always means all four in one year: The term also refers to the individual tournaments.
- The Australian Open was always on hard courts: It was on grass until 1987.
- Majors have always had the same final-set rules: They varied until recent years.
Frequently asked questions
Which Grand Slam is the oldest?
Wimbledon, first played in 1877.
Which Grand Slam is played on clay?
The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is the only major played on clay.
What is the difference between a calendar Grand Slam and a career Grand Slam?
A calendar Grand Slam means winning all four majors in one year. A career Grand Slam means winning each of them at least once over a career.
