Steffi Graf is the only tennis player to win all four Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic singles gold medal in the same calendar year. She achieved this extraordinary feat in 1988, completing what became known as the Golden Slam.
Graf won the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open before taking women’s singles gold at the Seoul Olympics. She defeated Gabriela Sabatini 6–3, 6–3 in the Olympic final, completing the set of five major prizes.
The achievement is often confused with a regular Grand Slam. A Grand Slam means winning the four major championships in one calendar year; the Golden Slam adds Olympic singles gold. Graf’s accomplishment remains unique in singles tennis. Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal have won all four majors during their careers, but neither completed the five-title combination in one year.