The Grand Slam
The possibility of being the reigning champion of all the current four Majors did not exist until 1924/1925, when the International Lawn Tennis Federation designated the Australian, French, British and American tournaments as the four Majors. Before that time only three events: Wimbledon, the World Hard Court Championships and the World Covered Court Championships were considered the premier international tennis events by ILTF. Tony Wlding of New Zealand won all three of those earlier majors in one year - 1913. It has been possible to complete a Grand Slam in most years and most disciplines since 1925, except for interruptions at Wimbledon, the Australian and French opens during the Second World War and the time when there was no Australian tournament in mixed doubles between 1970 to 1985, plus when there was no Australian Open at all in 1986.
The first definitive Grand Slam was accomplished when Don Budge won all four men's singles Majors in 1938. Achieving the Grand Slam has been possible in all five tennis disciplines every year since 1946 with the exception of the period 1970 to 1986 (during which the Australian Open mixed doubles competition wasn't held and the entire 1986 Australian Open tournament did not take place). To the end of the 2011 season, 14 players have completed the Grand Slam.
Of these players, two have won multiple Grand Slams: Rod Laver accomplished the feat twice; Margaret Court accomplished the feat three times, in two different disciplines – once in women's singles and twice in mixed doubles.
The four Junior disciplines, boys'/girls' singles and doubles, provide limited opportunities to achieve a Grand Slam. Players are only eligible from age 13 to 18, with 18 year olds likely to hold a physical advantage. Only Stefan Edberg has completed the Grand Slam in a Junior discipline.
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