The Serena Slam is the term coined for American tennis player Serena Williams on her achievement of being the reigning champion of all four Grand Slam tournaments, although she did not win them all in the same calendar year. However, a 1984 ruling by the International Tennis Federation declared a Grand Slam when a player was holding all four major titles at the time.
Williams won the 2002 French Open, Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the 2003 Australian Open. The term was coined after she captured the U.S. Open singles title, in anticipation of the possibility of the accomplishment.
The player who came closest to stopping the "Serena Slam" was Belgian Kim Clijsters, who held two match points against Williams in the third set of the semifinals of the 2003 Australian Open, before falling, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Williams's Grand Slam streak was ultimately halted by Belgian Justine Henin, who defeated her in the semifinals of the 2003 French Open.
Prior to this streak, Williams had only won one Grand Slam singles title, the 1999 U.S. Open. Since this streak was severed at the 2003 French Open, she has won three Grand Slam singles titles (2003 Wimbledon and the 2005 and 2007 Australian Open).
