In tennis, the feat is so unusual that the borrowed term feels unfamiliar on the lips: grand slam. It means successive victories in the Australian, French, Wimbledon and U.S. championships in a single season, and it was first accomplished by Don Budge in 1938. No one could do it again until 1962, when a nimble, lean (5 ft. 9 in., 155 Ibs.) left-hander from Australia named Rod Laver swept the four tournaments.
Even then, it was considered a bit of a fluke. Said Promoter Jack Kramer: "When Laver turns pro, he's going to...
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