Top five youngest players to complete a Career Grand Slam

Rafael Nadal is the youngest male tennis player to complete a career Grand Slam.

The biggest stars in tennis right now, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on the men’s side, and Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff on the women’s side, are all chasing the same dream — completing a Career Grand Slam.

Each of these players is missing at least one of the four Grand Slams. Six-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz had a golden opportunity to complete his Career Grand Slam at the 2025 Australian Open, which would have made him the youngest male player in history to achieve the feat, surpassing Rafael Nadal. But destiny had other plans, Alcaraz exited in the quarterfinals.

Jannik Sinner is also not far behind. He’s won four Grand Slams so far, but the French Open remains the only one missing from his trophy cabinet.

In women’s tennis, Aryna Sabalenka has dominated the Australian Open and the US Open with two titles each but she’s still hunting for a Wimbledon and the French Open title.

As for Iga Swiatek, she has conquered almost everything, especially on clay, but the Australian Open is the one major she hasn’t checked off her list yet.

However, tennis has seen plenty of legends complete the Career Grand Slam over the years. Here’s a look at the top five youngest players ever to achieve this rare accomplishment.

5. Martina Navratilova: 26 Years, 328 Days

Any discussion about tennis legends would be incomplete without Martina Navratilova. The Czech-American was considered the greatest tennis player across categories, as she was the biggest force to be reckoned with not only in singles but also in doubles and mixed doubles.

She is one of the two players in the Open Era to have achieved Boxed Set—a career Grand Slam in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

Also Read: Serena Williams refutes rumours of her possible return to professional tennis

Having played under the Czechoslovakia flag for three years, she moved to the US in 1976 and it paid dividends as she won her first Grand Slam at the 1978 Wimbledon.

Her first Grand Slam win Down Under came in 1981 and at Roland-Garros in 1982. But, the best was awaited in 1983, as she had a win percentage of 98.8% with 86 wins and one loss. It also included her first title at the US Open, which helped her complete her career Grand Slam in singles.

.4. Maria Sharapova: 25 Years, 52 Days

Maria Sharapova is one name that had a lot of focus in the 21st century. The 6-foot-2-inch girl burst onto the scene as a 14-year-old in 2001.

It took her three years to win her first Grand Slam in 2004, when she triumphed on the grass courts at Wimbledon. The Grand Slams on the hard courts in Australia and the US followed in the next four years.

But, the French Open proved to be elusive for the Russian until she reached her first final at Roland-Garros in 2012. She beat Sara Errani in straight sets to win the French Open and complete her career Grand Slam.

She went on to qualify for the finals in Paris at the next two editions and won it again in 2014, which turned out to be her final Grand Slam.

3. Rafael Nadal: 24 Years, 102 Days

Rafael Nadal is the current holder of the record for the youngest player in the men’s category to complete a career Grand Slam.

He is not new to holding records from a young age, as he won the French Open in his first appearance at Roland-Garros in 2005. The Spaniard dominated the clay courts in Paris, winning the title for four consecutive years until 2008.

The year 2008 was a breakthrough year for the southpaw, as he qualified for the semis of all the Grand Slams, including his maiden Wimbledon title and an Olympic gold. With the 2009 Australian Open and the 2010 US Open, the Spaniard completed his career Grand Slam at the age of 24.

2. Serena Williams: 21 Years, 121 Days

Serena Williams is one of the greatest players in modern tennis history. Born in 1981, the American won her maiden Grand Slam in 1999 at the US Open as an 18-year-old.

She needed three more years to win the Wimbledon Championships and the French Open. At the time of her “surface slam” accomplishment, she was 20 years and 10 months old.

Williams eventually completed her career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open in 2003. She was just 22-years-old when she achieved this feat and it was a sign of things to come.

She is the only player to complete a career golden slam in singles and doubles. The American had 23 Grand Slams, the most in the Open Era, when she hung up her boots.

1. Steffi Graf: 19 Years, 69 Days

The first thing a tennis fan would recall after hearing Steffi Graf’s name is her on-court elegance and flair. The German legend was known for her athletic ability combined with her powerful forehand, which made tennis fans witness her game in awe. She was a naturally gifted athlete and turned pro at the young age of 14.

She won her first Grand Slam title with an impressive performance at the 1987 French Open. The next year turned out to be Graf’s year, as she became the first player to achieve the golden slam, winning all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold in the same calendar year. Graf was just 19-years-old when she achieved this impeccable milestone.

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