Tennis
These are the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments you need to know about
In the world of tennis, the four major tournaments occupy the most important place in the calendar for fans and pros alike. Here's all you need to know about the sport's most iconic events.
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The so-called Grand Slam tennis tournaments are characterised not only by their place as the sport's most prestigous events to win, but also by the different challenges, surfaces and cultural atmospheres they offer to tennis players. The four Grand Slam tournaments – the Australian Open, French Open (Roland Garros), Wimbledon and the U.S. Open – are the stages where legends are born and unforgettable moments in tennis history take place. Get to know more about them below.
01
The 2025 tennis Grand Slam calendar
- Australian Open: Melbourne Park, Melbourne – January 12–26
- French Open: Roland Garros, Paris – May 19–June 8
- Wimbledon Championships: All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London – June 30–July 13
- U.S. Open: Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York City – August 18–September 8
02
Australian Open
Matteo Berrettini played the Australian Open final in 2022
© Alexander Papis/Red Bull Content Pool
- Time: January
- Floor: Hard court
- Location: Melbourne
The Australian Open kicks-off the annual tennis season and is one of the most physically demanding Grand Slam tournaments for players as it's held during the famously hot Australian summer. First contested in 1905, the tournament has been played at the modern facilities at Melbourne Park since 1988. It's played on hard courts, which makes for fast-paced matches and powerful service games.
The Australian Open is also known as the 'Happy Slam' because the warm atmosphere of the event and the energy of the spectators is well loved by the world's best players. In addition, late night matches, closed-roof courts and extreme temperature rules that can be applied due to the heat are some of the unique aspects of the tournament.
The most successful Australian Open champions
- Novak Djokovic (10)
- Roger Federer and Roy Emerson (6)
- Andre Agassi, Jack Crawford and Ken Rosewall (4)
Australian Open need to know facts
03
French Open
The French Open clay court suits the game's true all rounders
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- Time: May and June
- Ground: Clay court
- Location: Paris, France
Roland Garros is the only Grand Slam tournament played on clay and is a real battleground players, where physical endurance, patience and strategy come to the fore. The tournament, which began in 1891, has been held at the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris since 1928.
The slow nature of the clay court leads to prolonged rallies, which test mental strength as much as technical proficiency. For this reason, the French Open is usually more suited to more rounded players who don't rely on their serve and volley – just like Rafael Nadal, who's record of 14 titles here is a testament to his incredible ability on this surface.
The most successful French Open champions
- Rafael Nadal (14)
- Max Decugis (8)
- Björn Borg (6)
French Open need to know facts
04
Wimbledon Championships
Powerhouse women's player Elena Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022
© Jake Turney/Red Bull Content Pool
- Time: June and July
- Floor: Grass court
- Location: London, England
Wimbledon is the oldest and most traditional tournament in the entire tennis world. Organised since 1877, the British tournament has a ritual-like atmosphere with its white dress code, tradition of eating strawberries and cream in the stands and the presence of the Royal Family.
The fast nature and low bounce of the impeccably maintained grass courts emphasises a strong serve and volley game and shorter rallies. Therefore, players with big serves and excellent reflexes thrive. The official name of Wimbledon is The Championships and its seen not only as a tennis tournament, but also as a cultural symbol. The matches watched in silence on Centre Court are part of this tradition.
The most successful Wimbledon champions
- Roger Federer (8)
- Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras and William Renshaw (7)
- Björn Borg and Laurence Doherty (5)
Wimbledon Championships need to know facts
05
U.S. Open
She was the breakout star of the 2024 US Open
© Robert Snow/Red Bull Content Pool
- Time: August and September
- Floor: Hard court
- Location: New York City, United States
The last Grand Slam of the tennis season, the U.S. Open is immediately distinguished from the other three tournaments by its energy. First played in 1881, the tournament is held at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in the Flushing Meadows neighbourhood of New York. The big-city atmosphere, noisy crowds and late night matches are characteristic of the venue.
The U.S. Open's final set tie-break system keeps the tempo high, preventing matches from dragging on. It also pioneered technology by being the first Grand Slam to use the Hawk-Eye system to double-check umpiring decisions. The last big test of the season for tennis pros, the U.S. Open is often the setting for surprise championship victories.
The most successful U.S. Open champions
- Bill Tilden, Richard Sears and William Larned (7)
- Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer (5)
- John McEnroe, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Robert Wrenn (4)
U.S. Open need to know facts
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