The four Grand Slams are the most prestigious tournaments in tennis, as players from around the world dream of major glory.
Every year, players head to Melbourne, Paris, London, and New York in a bid to win Grand Slam titles on the WTA Tour.
In 2025, Madison Keys won her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final, before the Belarusian lost another final, to Coco Gauff, in Paris.
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Then at Wimbledon, Iga Swiatek won the title, taking down Amanda Anisimova to become a six-time Grand Slam champion.
The stars of the women’s game are now at Flushing Meadows, battling it out for the final Grand Slam of the year.
But what if the US Open wasn’t the last major of the season? One top-five WTA star has now shared her thoughts on a hypothetical fifth Grand Slam and suggested where she would like to see it played.
Jessica Pegula thinks it would be ‘pretty cool’ if the fifth Grand Slam was played in Japan
During the debut episode of ‘The Player’s Box Podcast’, Jessica Pegula said where she would want the fifth Grand Slam to be played.
“Somewhere in North America, preferably! But that’s just selfishly for me,” she said.
“Or what about Japan? That would be kind of cool. I know it’s far, but you could vacation out of there.
“It would have a cool cultural take on it, because it’s so different, and I feel like every Slam is so different.
“So Japan would be pretty cool.”
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Japan currently hosts two events on the WTA calendar, one at the WTA 250 level and the other at the WTA 500 level.
- Japan Open (Osaka, Japan) – WTA 250
- Pan Pacific Open (Tokyo, Japan) – WTA 500
In 2024, Suzan Lamens won the Japan Open, before Qinwen Zheng won the Pan Pacific Open.
While it would be interesting to see either event upgraded to Grand Slam status, it is, in all reality, highly unlikely.
The four-Grand Slam system is probably here to stay, and if there were to be a fifth Grand Slam added, the chances are it wouldn’t go to Japan.
Rumors continue to circulate around Saudi Arabia’s involvement in tennis, following the success of the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh.
The top eight players fought for the biggest prize in the history of the women’s game last year, as Coco Gauff left Saudi Arabia $4.805 million richer than she arrived.
2024 WTA Finals field
Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images
With money to spend and momentum on their side, it seems like a fifth Grand Slam would be played in Saudi Arabia, if anywhere at all…
Jessica Pegula’s Grand Slam record
The 31-year-old would welcome a fifth Grand Slam, but how has she performed at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open throughout her career?
Jessica Pegula’s Grand Slam record
Pegula has played her best tennis in New York, qualifying for her maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open 12 months ago.
- 2024 US Open 1R – Jessica Pegula defeated Shelby Rogers, 6-4, 6-3
- 2024 US Open 2R – Jessica Pegula defeated Sofia Kenin 7-6, 6-3
- 2024 US Open 3R – Jessica Pegula defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, 6-3, 6-3
- 2024 US Open 4R – Jessica Pegula defeated Diana Shnaider, 6-4, 6-2
- 2024 US Open QF – Jessica Pegula defeated Iga Swiatek, 6-2, 6-4
- 2024 US Open SF – Jessica Pegula defeated Karolina Muchova, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
Unfortunately for the American, she couldn’t quite get over the line, as Pegula lost 5-7, 5-7, to Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
Looking to go one better in 2025, Pegula made a strong start, taking down Egypt’s Mayar Sherif in straight sets to book her place in the second round.
There she will meet Russia’s Anna Blinkova, the world number 80, on Wednesday, August 27.