Beginnings of the Tennis Grand Slam
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".
The four tennis titles, the Australian, French, US and Wimbledon, were selected as being the biggest tournaments in tennis because at the time they were the main international championships held in the only four countries who had won the Davis Cup.
tennis tournamentAlthough the term Grand Slam was first coined in 1933, Jack Crawford failed to achieve the Grand Slam in that year 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 a Grand Slam (see list of winners).
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