Whattstheracquet?

1.These three players apart from being champion tennis players have something distinctive in common.What?

2. An inexhaustive list-
1970-John Newcombe
1971-John Newcombe
1972-Stan Smith
1973-Jan Kodeš
1974-Jimmy Connors
1975-Arthur Ashe
1976-Björn Borg
1977-Björn Borg
1978-Björn Borg
1979-Björn Borg
1980-Björn Borg
1981-John McEnroe
1982-Jimmy Connors
1983-John McEnroe
1984-John McEnroe
1985-Boris Becker
1986-Boris Becker
1987-Pat Cash
1988-Stefan Edberg
1989-Boris Becker
1990-Stefan Edberg
1991-Michael Stich
1992-Andre Agassi
1993-Pete Sampras
1994-Pete Sampras
1995-Pete Sampras
1996-Richard Krajicek
1997-Pete Sampras
1998-Pete Sampras
1999-Pete Sampras
2000-Pete Sampras
2001-Goran Ivanišević
2002-Lleyton Hewitt
2003-2007-X

What is this list about and who is X?

3. Initially grass was the traditional surface for all tennis Grand slams. However the organizers of this particular Grand Slam abandoned grass in 1988 for the 'Rebound ace' a particular hard court surface and further switched to plexicushion in 2008. Which Grand slam am I talking about?

4.Before the start of this event one person came to the Huoston Astrodome carried by four men in a palanquin. The other person came in a rickshaw.What was this widely publicised event?