To the controversy in 1984, i refer to the book 'Tennis confidential' by Paul Fein (p.218-224), who publishes here an article 'Grand Slam or Grand Sham' originally written in spring 1984, before Martina won her 'Martina Slam' at RG in 1984 (she had lost her only major match at RG in 1983). Fein describes in detail the controversy, generated by the MITC (Mens International Tennis Council), for most part consisting of British writers, who tried to modificate the 45 year long tradition of the Grand Slam. The US tennis writers Association protested heavily against that change. Fein publishes in the whole letters by Allison Danzig, the man, who invented the term Grand Slam in 1933, and David Gray, the then General Secretary of the ITF.
Danzig writes (April 1984): "I am entirely in accord with you in standing for the concept of a Grand Slam requiring that the four major championships be won in the same calendar year." Gray writes on request by Philipp Chatrier the president of the ITF (4 Jan. 1983): "The ITF's only initiative in this matter, has been the organisation of the offer of a bonus of 1m$ to any player who holds all four GS titles simultaneously... In spite of all that we have read on this matter, it has never been my Committee or Management's intention to alter the basis of the classic Grand Slam, i.e. the capture of all four titles in a year."
So the ITF never officially altered the concept of the Grand Slam.The motif behind the bonus offer was Chatrier's attempt to lure all the stars back to the major tournaments, in control by the ITF. When Martina won the bonus, it was quickly retracted for the coming years.
