Carlos Alcaraz won his first round at the 2024 US Open, only conceding a set against rising star Li Tu. While the Spaniard is one of the favorites to win the title, he might have extra motivation to become champion in New York: a very special record that only Rafael Nadal and Rod Laver have.
If Alcaraz wins the US Open, he will join Nadal and Laver as the only men who have managed to win the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year in the Open Era. Laver is, of course, the only man to have completed the calendar year Grand Slam in the Open Era (1969, after doing it in 1962).
Meanwhile, Nadal won the three majors in 2010. On the other hand, only five men have won the double act of Wimbledon-US Open since 1968: Laver (1969), Jimmy Connors (1974), Roger Federer (2004, 2006 and 2007), Nadal (2010) and Novak Djokovic (2011, 2015).
When asked by Chris McKendry of ESPN if he was aware of the record after his first round match, Alcaraz responded that he wasn’t going to think about it. “After this interview, I’m not going to think about it. I’m just gonna clear my mind and try to make that I never heard that,” he said with a laugh.
What about women? Players who completed the GS and the three majors
When it comes to women, Margaret Court (1970) and Steffi Graff (1988) are the only women to achieve the calendar year Grand Slam in the Open Era. The latter is also the only player, men or woman, to achieve the Golden Grand Slam by also winning gold at the Olympics in singles.
Now, female players in the Open Era that won the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open are: Billie Jean King (1972), Martina Navratilova (1984), Steffi Graf (1993, 1995 and 1996), and Serena Williams (2002).