It was 70 years ago today – September 24, 1938 – that the “Grand Slam” was born as Don Budge completed the first sweep of all four major tennis championships in a single calendar year at the 1937 U.S. Championships. The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book, due out November 1, On This Day In Tennis History ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.tennistomes.com) that outlines the historic occasion.
September 24
1938 – Don Budge achieves the first “Grand Slam” of tennis, when he defeats doubles partner and Davis Cup teammate Gene Mako 6-3, 6-8, 6-2, 6-1 in the final of the U.S. Championships at Forest Hills. At the beginning of the year, Budge made a sweep of all four major titles his secret goal for the year and one by one claimed all four tournament goals – the Australian Championships in January, the French Championships in June, Wimbledon in July and finally, the U.S. Championships. Writes Allison Danzig of The New York Times of the final “The book was closed yesterday on the greatest record of success ever compiled by a lawn tennis player in one season of national and international championships competition.” Mako, who also wins the U.S. doubles title with Budge, was the only player to win a set from Budge in the tournament. Their final is played in great spirits and with a high quality of play, despite the fact that many of the crowd of 12,000 is certain that Budge, the overwhelming favorite, would easily win the match. Writes Danzig, “The play was animated with friendly manifestations across the net whose contagion was communicated to the gallery, particularly in the third set when the crowd was roaring with mirth as the doubles champions trapped each other repeatedly with drop shots. But there was no holding back on either side and there was no trace of amiability in the scorching forehand drives with which Mako caught Budge in faulty position inside the baseline or the murderous backhand and volcanic service which Budge turned loose.” In the women’s final, Alice Marble defeats Australia’s Nancye Wynne 6-0, 6-3.
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French Championships
Rafa’s Records
Rafael Nadal was simply devastating in his 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Roger Federer Sunday in the men’s singles final at the French Open. As the managing director of New Chapter Press, publisher of the new upcoming book THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS (click here to pre-order for 39 percent off), we are making some last minute adjustments to the French Championships section of the tome.
For starters, Nadal’s win is the second most decisive victory in a men’s singles final at the French – Nadal giving up one more game than Guillermo Vilas did in his 6-0, 6-3, 6-0 win over Brian Gottfried in the 1977 French final. The title was Nadal’s fourth – tying him for second place with Henri Cochet – and two behind Bjorn Borg, who won six men’s singles titles. Nadal, however, did match Borg’s four successive victories (1978-1981) and his 28-match winning streak at Roland Garros. Nadal, as we all know, has yet to lose a match in the event, winning the title in his four attempts to win the event and obviously holds the record for best winning percentage at the event with 1.000. Federer also gains another line in the French Open records section, losing his third men’s singles final which ties the all-time men’s record along with Vilas (1975, 1978, 1982) and Jaroslav Drobny (1946, 1948, 1950).
One item to clarify which was incorrectly reported on American television regarding Borg and his record at Roland Garros. He did play the event eight times, winning six titles and losing to only one player – Adriano Panatta of Italy. Panatta beat Borg in the fourth round in 1973 by a 7-6, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 margin and again in the 1976 QUARTERFINALS – not the final as reported more than once – by a 6-3, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6.
On to Wimbledon…
Chatrier – The Name That Permeates The French Open
One name that you are hearing – and will hear – more than perhaps any other during the duration of the 2008 French Championships is that of “Chatrier.” Who is Chatrier and why is his does his name grace the center court at Roland Garros? Bud Collins, tennis journalist and historian extraordinaire, in his soon to be released book THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS, profiles Philippe Chatrier, the French tennis administrator who was instrumental in the resurgence of the French Championships as one of the world’s top events and the return of tennis to the Olympic program in 1988. (To pre-order THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS for a special pre-sale price of 39 percent off, click here)
As player, journalist and administrator, Philippe Charier, a Parisian, made a tremendous impact on the game, and was instrumental in its growth and success, particularly during the Open era. He was a good enough player to win the French junior titles in singles and doubles in 1945, play internationally for France, and later captained the Davis Cup team.
Serving dual roles as president of the French Federation of Tennis (1972-92) and the ITF (1977-91) he was largely responsible for the renaissance of the French Open, placing it on par with the other three majors and overseeing the splendid updating of Stade Roland Garros. He fought valiantly against over-commercialization of the game, and led a carnpaign to restore tennis to the Olympic Games, a goal realized in 1988 after a 64-year interval.
Championing the Grand Slam concept, he worked hard to ally the four major championships in staying at the pinnacle. He was also a member of the International Olympic Committee. An intelligent chronicler of the game, he was a Paris newspaperman, and founded one of the leading magazines of the sport, Tennis de France. The central court at Roland Garros is named for him. He was born Feb. 2, 1926, in Paris, and died there June 23, 2000.