defend a grand slam title

verb phrase

1. To take part in one of the four major tennis or golf tournaments as its current winner, trying to win it again.

   B2

   transitive; the person is the subject and the title is the object; often used in the -ing form 'defending champion'sports journalism

   • "She is in Melbourne to defend her Grand Slam title."B1
   • "The world number one returns to Paris to defend her Grand Slam title."B2
   • "After a long injury lay-off, he arrives at Flushing Meadows with little match practice as he attempts to defend his Grand Slam title."C1

2. To succeed in winning that major title again, so that you keep it.

   C1

   often with 'successfully', or in the passive ('the title was defended')sports journalism

   • "She defended her Grand Slam title with a straight-sets win in the final."B2
   • "Only a handful of players have defended a Grand Slam title in the modern era."C1
   • "He became the first man in nearly a decade to defend his Grand Slam title on the Paris clay."C2