Serena Williams is currently the most outstanding player in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and she is on her way to accomplishing a feat even more outstanding; a calendar Grand Slam.
A calendar Grand Slam is achieved when a player wins all four Grand Slam events consecutively in the same calendar year. These four tournaments consist of the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. After defeating Spaniard Garbine Muguruza at Wimbledon, Williams has only the US Open standing in between her and the coveted Grand Slam.
When it comes to holders of the calendar Grand Slam, there have been only five tennis players in history to accomplish one. On the men’s side Don Budge and Ron Laver; on the women’s side there are three: Maureen Connolly Brinker, Margaret Court, and Steffi Graf. If Williams wins the US Open she will be the first since Graf to join this prestigious club.
Tennis itself is a difficult sport that requires a lot of stamina, agility, and more from its players. Going through these tournaments players face different surfaces such as grass, clay, and hard court: each one providing its own challenges. However, Williams has been able to prove herself on all of these with a remarkable 21-4 Grand Slam record.
The fact that only five players have achieved the feat of a calendar Grand Slam shows its true difficulty to obtain. Especially when these tournaments originated more than 100 years ago.
With the American fans behind her, there’s no doubt in my mind that Serena Williams will win the US Open yet again and be the next out of the very few; calendar Grand Slam winners.
ndmariso 