Tennis Grand Slam
Events > Grand Slam > History
Beginnings of the Tennis Grand Slam
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The term Grand Slam was first used in 1933 by the American journalist John Kieran, when describing the attempt that year by player Jack Crawford to win all four titles: the Australian, French, US and Wimbledon tournaments. The term came from his comparing it with "a countered and vulnerable grand slam in bridge".
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The four tennis titles, the Australian, French, US and Wimbledon, were selected as being the biggest in tennis because, at the time they were the main international championships held in the only four countries who had won the Davis Cup.
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Jack Crawford failed to achieve the Grand Slam in 1933, as he lost in the US Championships final to Fred Perry. It was not until 1938 that Donald Budge became the first person to achieve the Grand Slam (see list of winners).
