Grand Slams
The four tennis Grand Slams
The four Grand Slams are the biggest events in tennis: the Australian Open, the French Open (Roland-Garros), Wimbledon and the US Open. Each has its own surface, its own season and its own way of selling tickets. This hub is your starting point — pick a Slam to dig into the detail, or compare all four at a glance below.
What makes a Grand Slam
The Grand Slams — also called the majors — are the four tournaments that sit at the very top of the tennis calendar. They run across two weeks, feature the largest singles draws in the sport (128 players) and offer the most ranking points and prize money. Winning all four in a single year is the rarest feat in tennis. For fans, they are also the hardest tickets to get, because demand far outstrips the number of seats.
Choose a Slam
Four tournaments, four very different experiences.
Australian Open
The season opener, played in the southern-hemisphere summer heat. Famous for its lively atmosphere and night sessions.
Read the guide May–JuneFrench Open
Roland-Garros: the great clay-court major, where long rallies and physical tennis decide who lifts the Coupe des Mousquetaires.
Read the guide June–JulyWimbledon
The oldest tournament in tennis and the only major on grass, with its whites, its Queue and its public Ballot.
Read the guide Aug–SepUS Open
The loud, late-night finale to the Slam season, played under the lights at Flushing Meadows.
Read the guideThe four majors at a glance
| Slam | City | Usual window | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | Melbourne, Australia | January | Hard |
| French Open | Paris, France | Late May to early June | Clay |
| Wimbledon | London, UK | Late June to mid-July | Grass |
| US Open | New York, USA | Late August to early September | Hard |
Windows are typical, not fixed. Exact dates move year to year — always confirm on each tournament’s official site.
How tickets work, broadly
Every Slam sells tickets differently. Some open a public sale or a registration window months ahead, some run a ballot or lottery, and all of them keep a large share of seats for members, sponsors and hospitality packages. Show-court seats (the main stadiums) are the scarcest and priciest; ground passes that let you roam the outside courts are usually the most affordable way in, especially in the first week. We explain the specifics on each Slam’s page.
A few rules of thumb
- Buy from official channels first — each tournament’s own site is always the safest route.
- The first week is cheaper and easier than the second; finals weekend is the hardest ticket of all.
- Ground passes are great value if you’re happy watching the outside courts and soaking up the atmosphere.
- Resale rules differ at every Slam, so check what is and isn’t allowed before buying second-hand.