From Bangers to Crumpets: Rating the Grand Slams...

There is something in the air.  You can feel it in the morning when you get up and meander out to retrieve the paper from whatever obscure place the sadistic paper guy threw it this time...today behind the neighbor’s climbing rose trellis...

The yellow center of your poached egg seems to call to you. There is your compulsion to run and slide into your desk chair and glide exactly into the opening—with colorful bruises to remind you when you missed ever so slightly.

What do these subtle signs mean?

The answer dawns! Yes, of course—it is the start of slam season—when we nudge the restraints of our aortic pumps a bit higher and try to fortify our skinny vocal cords.  

As the clay season opens the portal on summer’s biggest tennis events, we fans ready ourselves for the thrill of victory and the angst of defeat...yeah, bring it on!    

If you are a true tennis fan and if you have blood in your veins and courage in your heart, nothing is more intense than a Sunday final in Paris, in Wimbledon, or in New York. 

But, what about Melbourne, you ask? 

Well, what about it?

Melbourne is history by May.  While it may be a beautiful city and a great place to party, Melbourne’s Australian Open suffers by its place on the calendar and overall by the history of its appeal. 

Even today, the Australian Open sits outside looking in at the big three grand slams.

Ask yourself which Grand Slam has the greatest impact and the greatest prestige in men’s tennis? 

If you were to ask any male tennis player on tour this question: If you could win only one Grand Slam Championship in your career, which trophy would you choose to have sitting on your mantle?

This would be their order of preference, according to the best mind in tennis…

The fourth-ranked slam: Australian Open

The Australian Open is the baby, the newest and without a doubt the slam with the least prestige, to date. It began in 1905 and was contested on grass until 1987. All tennis tournaments were played on grass in the beginning, even the French Open. 

It was years before players living outside Australia made the long trek to the land down under to play in this tournament.  It also suffered because of low prize money and its place on the calendar in December.

The Australian Open has crowned 59 men’s singles champions in 97 years. Roy Emerson owns the most titles with six and most consecutive titles with five. Jack Crawford and Andre Agassi are second with four Australian Open titles. No player has won the event more than twice in a row in the modern era. 

As for slam prestige, Melbourne is last; but it is growing in popularity.

The third ranked slam: French Open

The French Open began in 1891 and was played on grass until 1912 when a red clay “terre battue” was used as the new surface. 

Clay soon became an acceptable substitute for grass.  The Frenchmen of the '20s honed the skill of playing on the red clay into an art form. 

There have been 57 different champions over 112 years of play. Thirty-two of the 57 won the French Open only once.  Max Decugis, who played before 1925, won eight championships.

Bjorn Borg, who played in the modern era, has six championships. He and Rafael Nadal are tied for a record with each winning four consecutive titles at Roland Garros.

The problem with watching tennis on red clay at Stade Roland Garros is that, for the most part, it is boring. It is like watching paint dry. Let’s face it; it is dirt, it is slow and some of the rallies seem to last for days. 

The biggest excitement of almost any match is the drop shot followed by a scintillating lob, and if you are really lucky, a between-the-legs stab at an impossible get, a la Yannick Noah!

The French is old and established but playing on red clay does not inspire or guarantee prestige like the top-ranked slams. 

The second ranked slam: U.S. Open

The U.S. Open was first contested in 1881. Like all other grand slam tournaments, the Open was played on grass until 1975 when it switched to clay. 

In 1978 the tournament moved to Flushing Meadows and adopted a hard-court surface called Deco Turf.  Hard courts mean speed and action—big serves and big strokes.

Since that first tournament, at the conclusion of 128 final matches, 63 champions have kissed the trophy—no biters so far! Some, of course, have tasted victory more than once. 

The U.S. Open is big and dramatic held in New York City—the city that never sleeps.  The night matches are spectacles with celebrities sprinkled in the vast audience watching the drama unfold in Arthur Ashe Stadium—bright lights sparkle as part of the Big Apple tableau and the rowdy crowd cheers...

The U.S. Open is the last slam of the season and its importance and prestige is second only to Wimbledon.

The first-ranked slam: Wimbledon

Wimbledon remains the piece de resistance when it comes to grand slam championships.  Players who have won on Centre Court at Wimbledon have achieved a lifelong dream. 

It is the oldest tennis tournament of the four grand slams and it is steeped in tradition and prestige. Since its beginning in 1877, it is the only remaining grand slam held on grass...still held at the All England Club in the London suburb of Wimbledon. 

In attendance are royalty which once required players to bow and curtsy as they entered the court, a practice no longer in force.

In 122 men’s championship matches, 64 men have taken the top spot and reigned at Wimbledon.  Currently, William Renshaw and Pete Sampras hold the most titles with seven each. 

The record for the most consecutive titles won is held by William Renshaw with six. In the modern era Bjorn Borg and Roger Federer hold the record, each securing five consecutive wins on Centre Court.

Wimbledon is high tea and strawberries and cream.  You must wear white and you must observe proper decorum.  Boorish behavior is not tolerated.  Just ask John McEnroe!

It is like a page out of the past brought to life and lived for two weeks as summer begins in earnest.  Wimbledon brings fairy tale mystique of the highest magnitude…the stuff dreams are made of in winning the All England crown.

Slam Season Underway

As May progresses and players are engaged in the struggles on clay, we await the French Open, the first trial of slam season. 

The anticipation is palpable and we tingle with impatience, wondering if anyone can best Nadal on clay…wondering if he can repeat at Wimbledon or whether he will become one of those solitary winners on the grass of Centre Court.  

Is the U.S. Open within Nadal’s grasp? Will Roger Federer recover? Will Andy Murray win his first?  Will Novak Djokovic find consistency in his game? 

Ah, there is nothing better than slam season to answer all our weighty questions...