Don Budge

Budge completed the Grand Slam in 1938 by winning all four major championships—the Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US Championships—in a single calendar year. He was the first player, male or female, to achieve this feat in tennis.

Budge was an amateur when he won all four majors in 1938. He turned professional in 1939, joining the pro tour, which meant he was barred from competing in the amateur Grand Slam events for the remainder of his competitive prime.

Budge's primary rivals included the German player Gottfried von Cramm, whom he defeated in a famous five-set Davis Cup match in 1937, and the American player Bobby Riggs. His rivalry with von Cramm was particularly significant in the late 1930s.

Budge was renowned for his powerful one-handed topspin backhand, which was considered one of the greatest single shots in tennis history. His backhand was a key weapon that distinguished him from his contemporaries and influenced generations of players.