What does the calendar slam imply as Novak Djokovic stands on the pinnacle of historical past

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Novak Djokovic is knocking on destiny’s door and it might quickly give approach. With his semi-final win in opposition to Alexander Zverev, the Serb is on the right track within the last of the US Open in opposition to Daniil Medvedev, which implies he can be touching the space of finishing the elusive feat of successful 4 Grand Slam tournaments in the identical calendar yr. Used to be. If he achieves this, he would be the first participant since Steffi Graf in 1988 to win a calendar slam.

What is a Grand Slam or Calendar Slam?

The Grand Slam or Calendar Slam is the achievement of successful all 4 main championships (The Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open) in the identical self-discipline in the identical calendar yr.

In standard terminology, folks typically check with the Big 4 tennis tournaments as Grand Slams, however in actuality, these are known as Grand Slam tournaments, that are the parts to realize to finish the Grand Slam or Calendar Slam. For instance, for those who consider these tournaments as Marvel’s Infinity Stones, the Grand Slam is the Infinity Gauntlet, which might solely be accomplished after successful all 4 tournaments in a calendar yr.

There are exceptions to this rule resembling successful all 4 main championships in a row, however not throughout the identical calendar yr, that is known as a non-calendar yr Grand Slam, whereas successful 4 majors at any level throughout a profession is a is known as. Career Grand Slam.

grand slam event

Grand Slam tournaments, also referred to as majors, are the Australian Open in January, the French Open from late May to early June, Wimbledon in late June to early July, and the US Open in August–September.

Australian and United States tournaments are performed on exhausting courts, on French clay and Wimbledon on grass.

Wimbledon is the oldest event, having been established in 1877, adopted by the US in 1881, the French in 1891 and the Australian in 1905, however they weren’t all formally designated majors till 1923.

previous winners

The final time a person gained a Grand Slam was in 1988 when Steffi Graf defeated Argentine Gabriela Sabatini 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 in a three-set last on the US Open. He additionally gained the elusive Golden Slam upon receiving the Olympic gold medal in the identical yr.

To discover a participant within the males’s class, we’ve to go far again to 1969 when Australian Rod Laver gained all 4 Majors in a single yr.

The participant who began all of it was John Buzz, an American tennis participant who gained the consideration of being the primary Grand Slam winner in 1938. She then paved the best way for fellow American Maureen Connolly, who grew to become the primary lady to win a Grand Slam. The likes of Margaret Court and Steffi Graf. She can also be the one participant in historical past to win a title in all 4 main championships with out dropping a set.

In 1970, Australian Margaret Court gained all 4 Grand Slam singles titles, turning into the second lady in historical past to take action. She is one in all solely three gamers to have achieved a profession “boxed set” of Grand Slam titles, successful each potential Grand Slam title – singles, girls’s doubles and blended doubles – in all 4 Grand Slam occasions.

trendy heritage

In 2015, Serena Williams tried to finish a calendar Grand Slam, however was upset by unseeded Italian Roberta Vinci within the semifinals of the US Open. Vinci, previously referred to as the world’s top-ranked doubles participant, defeated Williams 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in one of many greatest blowouts in tennis historical past to mark the American’s calendar-year Ended his possibilities of finishing the Grand Slam.

After the match, Serena mentioned, ‘I do not need to discuss how disappointing it’s for me. If you might have another questions, I’m open to them.”

Six years later, Djokovic stands in the identical spot the place Serena stood in 2015. Just one win would make sure the Serb’s place within the annals of tennis historical past however a defeat may begin a downward spiral. After all, it was solely final month that Djokovic misplaced his likelihood to finish the Golden Slam when he misplaced to acquainted foe Alexander Zverev within the Olympic semi-finals.

His disappointment was evident when, in a bronze medal match in opposition to Spaniard Carreo Busta, he threw his racket into the stands, lacking among the folks sitting inside an virtually empty stadium. The video went viral and the world No 1 participant was criticized for his act. Worse, he needed to come again empty-handed from Tokyo, dropping 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 to Busta.

Even if gamers underestimate the significance of a Grand Slam-like achievement, the considered it is sort of a mermaid tune, slowly calling them by way of the darkness, the attract of which is just too exhausting to withstand.

For Djokovic, it’s time to tread rigorously whereas pointing to historical past.

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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS

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