![Donald Budge Don Budge in the first round at Wimbledon. June 28th 1938.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/150909-grand-slam-winners-01.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
By Lily Rothman and Liz Ronk
Updated: | Originally published: ;
As Serena Williams enters the U.S. Open semifinals on Friday, following a rain delay, she’s making a run at tennis’ history books: if she successfully completes a calendar-year grand slam (consecutive wins at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open) she’ll join the ranks of a handful of greats from the sport’s history.
Just five other singles players have ever met the challenge—though one did so twice, and several doubles players have managed too. From Don Budge in 1938, to Maureen Connolly in 1953, to Rod Laver in 1962 and 1969, to Margaret Court in 1970, to Steffi Graf in 1988, a calendar-year grand slam has been a rare feat. Here’s a look back at those tennis titans.
![Donald Budge Don Budge in the first round at Wimbledon. June 28th 1938.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/150909-grand-slam-winners-01.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sport. Tennis. 1939. American Don Budge was the first player to win the Grand Slam in 1938, which meant winning the 4 great tennis championships of the world. Don Budge 1938](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/150909-grand-slam-winners-02.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![MAUREEN CONNOLLY EN FINALE A WIMBLEDON 1953 Maureen Connolly at Wimbeldon, July 4, 1953.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/150909-grand-slam-winners-03.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Little Mo Big Trophy American tennis player Maureen Connolly (Little Mo) with the women's singles trophy after beating Doris Hart in the final at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships, July 1953.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/150909-grand-slam-winners-04.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Rod Laver Rod Laver 1962](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/150909-grand-slam-winners-05.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Australian tennis champion Rod Laver holds up, 07 Australian tennis champion Rod Laver 1969](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/150909-grand-slam-winners-06.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Margaret Court At Wimbledon Margaret Court of Australia in action at Wimbledon on 30th June 1970.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/150909-grand-slam-winners-07.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sport, Tennis, All England Lawn Tennis Championships, Wimbledon, England, 3rd July 1970, Ladies Singles Final, Australia's Margaret Court holds the Ladies Singles Plate after beating USA's Billie Jean-King 14-12, 11-9 Sport, Tennis, All England Lawn Tennis Championships, Wimbledon, England, 3rd July 1970, Ladies Singles Final, Australia's Margaret Court holds the Ladies Singles Plate after beating USA's Billie Jean-King 14-12, 11-9](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/150909-grand-slam-winners-08.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![1988 US Open Steffi Graf in action vs Argentina Gabriela Sabatini during Women's Final at USTA National Tennis Center. Flushing, NY 9/10/1988.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/150909-grand-slam-winners-09.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![1988 U.S. Open Tennis Tournament Steffi Graf during the 1988 U.S. Open Tennis Tournament in Flushing, Queens.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/150909-grand-slam-winners-10.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
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Write to Lily Rothman at lily.rothman@time.com