Australian Open
Follow the Australasian Championships through travelling venues, Kooyong and the move to Melbourne Park. Learn why distance and scheduling matter to its record.
MelbourneSetting
Hard courtSurface
Read guide ↗A guide to tennis historyFour majors.
Four majors.
Different stories.
Start with the places. Then follow the changes in surfaces, entry rules and professional tennis that made the Grand Slam tournaments what they are.
Choose a starting point ↓
Read the histories
04 tournaments / 01 shared history
Roland-Garros
Separate the French Championships from the Roland-Garros venue, then examine the Musketeers, red clay and the first major of the Open Era.
ParisSetting
ClaySurface
Read guide ↗Wimbledon
Trace the All England Club from Worple Road to Church Road. Distinguish lasting grass-court traditions from changes to draws, entry and playing conditions.
LondonSetting
GrassSurface
Read guide ↗US Open
Connect Newport, Forest Hills and Flushing Meadows. Compare the grass, clay and hard-court chapters, with tiebreaks and equal prize money in context.
New YorkSetting
Hard courtSurface
Read guide ↗What a Grand Slam means
Define a calendar Grand Slam, a career Grand Slam and the Open Era. Use Don Budge, Rod Laver and Steffi Graf to distinguish achievements that are often grouped together.
Four titlesThe set
Shared historyFocus
Read guide ↗Read the conditions behind the result.
- Identify the competition. Singles, doubles and mixed doubles have separate records. A title total needs a clear category.
- Check the entry rules. The Open Era allowed professionals and amateurs to compete together. Earlier fields were shaped by that division.
- Locate the court. The Australian and US championships changed surfaces. A tournament name does not guarantee identical playing conditions across its history.
- Use the original record. Each guide links to the tournament or governing body's archive so you can follow a question further.
If the terminology is unfamiliar, begin with the Grand Slam guide, then return to a tournament that interests you.