In the world of tennis, a select group of players has managed to capture the Career Grand Slam, winning all four major tournaments: the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Notable names on this prestigious list include Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Steffi Graf, Carlos Alcaraz, Andre Agassi, Rod Laver, Maria Sharapova, Chris Evert, and Martina Navratilova.
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However, several legendary players have come close, securing victories in three out of the four Grand Slams but ultimately missing out on completing the set. One of the most mourned cases is Pete Sampras, a 14-time Grand Slam champion, who, despite being considered one of the greatest players of all time prior to the Big Three era, could not conquer the clay courts of Roland Garros. His best result there was a semifinal appearance in 1996.
Others, including six-time Grand Slam winner Boris Becker and eight-time champion Jimmy Connors, were unable to add Roland Garros to their achievements, despite reaching the finals and semifinals multiple times. Stefan Edberg, with six Grand Slams, also missed out due to his lack of success in Paris. Similarly, Martina Hingis (five titles), Lindsay Davenport (three), Angelique Kerber (three), Arthur Ashe (three), Virginia Wade (three), and John Newcombe (seven) were unable to secure a French Open victory.
Wimbledon has also posed challenges for numerous champions. Ivan Lendl, an eight-time Grand Slam winner, lost two finals there, while Mats Wilander (seven titles) and Stan Wawrinka (three) also fell short. Guillermo Vilas, with four Grand Slam wins, and Ken Rosewall, who achieved eight, are among those who never lifted the Wimbledon trophy.
On the women’s side, Justine Henin secured seven majors but was a finalist twice at Wimbledon, while Mónica Seles, a nine-time Grand Slam champion, also finished as a finalist once at the event.
In contrast, the hard court Grand Slams have fewer notable omissions. Ashleigh Barty, a three-time Grand Slam champion, is one of the few who only lacks a US Open title. Her compatriot Evonne Goolagong also missed out on the New York tournament.
Currently, active players are on the cusp of achieving the Career Grand Slam. Jannik Sinner, having won five Grand Slams, just needs to capture Roland Garros, and was very close in 2025. Elena Rybakina, fresh off her US Open victory, also requires the same title to join this elite group. Iga Swiatek, renowned for her clay court prowess, only needs to win the US Open to complete her career set.