Tennis · Guide
The four Grand Slams explained
The four biggest tournaments in tennis, each two weeks long, with 128-player singles draws and the most ranking points of the year.
| Slam | When | Where | Surface | UK TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | January | Melbourne | Hard | TNT Sports |
| French Open (Roland Garros) | Late May – June | Paris | Clay | TNT Sports |
| Wimbledon | Late June – July | London | Grass | BBC (free) |
| US Open | Late August – September | New York | Hard | Sky Sports |
What makes them different
- Size: 128 players in each singles draw, over two weeks.
- Best of five sets for men's singles; best of three for women.
- Points: 2,000 ranking points for the winner, the most of any event. See rankings.
- Final sets: decided by a 10-point tie-break at 6–6. See the tie-break.
Surfaces
Each Slam plays differently: fast grass at Wimbledon, slow high-bouncing clay at Roland Garros, and hard courts in Melbourne and New York. See court surfaces.
This year's champions, and live draws while each Slam is on, are on each tournament page.
Quick answers
- What are the four tennis Grand Slams?
- The Australian Open (January), the French Open or Roland Garros (late May to June), Wimbledon (late June to July) and the US Open (late August to September).
- Which Grand Slams are on free TV in the UK?
- Wimbledon, on the BBC. The US Open is on Sky Sports, and the Australian and French Opens on TNT Sports.
- Which Grand Slam is played on grass?
- Wimbledon. The French Open is on clay; the Australian and US Opens are on hard courts.
- What is a calendar Grand Slam?
- Winning all four Grand Slam titles in the same calendar year. It is extremely rare.