UPSC Prelims 2008 Q31: Current Affairs – Tennis Grand Slams
Starting with the Australian Open Lawn Tennis Tournament,
which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the other three major Lawn
Tennis Tournaments?
- (a) French Open - US Open - Wimbledon
- (b) French Open - Wimbledon - US Open
- (c) Wimbledon - US Open - French Open
- (d) Wimbledon - French Open - US Open
Answer: (b) French Open - Wimbledon - US Open
Explanation
Chronological order of the Grand Slam tennis tournaments
Starting with the Australian Open, the other three major tournaments follow a specific calendar sequence.
| Order | Tournament | Approximate timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Australian Open | January |
| 2nd | French Open | May-June |
| 3rd | Wimbledon | June-July |
| 4th | US Open | August-September |
Why this sequence is correct:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Calendar order | Australian → French → Wimbledon → US Open |
| Surface progression | Hard court → Clay → Grass → Hard court |
Answer: (b) French Open - Wimbledon - US Open.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. 'French Open-US Open-Wimbledon' places the US Open before Wimbledon, reversing their actual calendar order.
- (b) CORRECT. French Open, then Wimbledon, then US Open follows the correct chronological sequence after the Australian Open.
- (c) Incorrect. 'Wimbledon-US Open-French Open' starts with the wrong tournament and misorders the rest.
- (d) Incorrect. 'Wimbledon-French Open-US Open' places Wimbledon before the French Open, reversing their actual order.
Key point
After the Australian Open (January), the correct chronological order is: French Open (May-June) → Wimbledon (June-July) → US Open (August-September).
Remember
After the Australian Open: French Open, then Wimbledon, then US Open.
Common mistakes
- Reversing the order of Wimbledon and the French Open, which actually run in that sequence (French Open first).
- Placing the US Open too early in the sequence, before Wimbledon.
- Not knowing the approximate calendar months for each Grand Slam tournament.
Exam tip
Grand Slam calendar order: Australian Open (Jan) → French Open (May-June) → Wimbledon (June-July) → US Open (Aug-Sep).
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Grand Slam (tennis)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — French Open