The Australian Open is into the second week and latter rounds.
With the draws dwindling, it made us wonder if it is easier to win a Grand Slam singles or doubles title.
Winning A Singles Grand Slam
The 128 person draw is immense.
However, in most cases, there is certainty with who the players are that will make it into the second week.
Yes, Emma Raducanu’s success at the 2021 US Open as a qualifier disputes that theory, but in general, the playing field is mostly known and established.
In a lot of cases, the players have previous head-to-head matchups against each other so they have experience to use in their upcoming matches.
Winning A Doubles Grand Slam
The doubles draw is half the size with 64 teams.
While that sounds simpler, it has its own complications to consider.
Doubles teams are not universal from tournament to tournament.
Players often team up when their schedules and priorities align.
That means they may not have practiced together much, and they may not have intel on their opponents who are in the same situation.
Doubles play is fraught with uncertainty; unlike singles, where a strategy may be executed, doubles comes down to instinct, hand-eye coordination, and being on the winning end of in-your-face rallies that look frightening.
Jelena Ostapenko just nailed Laura Siegemund in the face. pic.twitter.com/jtA8Q7CEo5
— BRISBANE CHAMP! (@hsieh_n_wong) January 26, 2026
Then, there are the other variables for doubles tennis; teams withdraw if players are exceling in singles, schedules get juggled based on weather and other factors which can require multiple matches in the same day in extreme circumstances.
Both Are Equally Impressive And Players Who Win At Both Disciplines Are Amazing
No matter which you think is “easier,” the fact is that neither is.
Players who win Grand Slams are forever known as Grand Slam champions during and after their playing careers.
Those who win Grand Slams as singles and doubles players should be even more celebrated. Among active players those include Venus Williams (who won 2000 and 2008 Wimbledon in singles and doubles), Coco Gauff, Barbora Krejcikova (who won the 2021 French Open in singles and doubles), Jelena Ostapenko, and Aryna Sabalenka.
Stan Wawrinka, 40, in his final year on the ATP Tour, should also be considered in this group as he won singles Grand Slams and an Olympic doubles gold medal (with Roger Federer). Venus Williams and Barbora Krejcikova are Olympic champions in doubles, and Venus also won Olympic singles.
