Well, let me tell ya, back in the day, tennis was a bit different. You see, before 1968, only them amateurs could play in the big tournaments like Wimbledon and the US Open. Folks who made a living out of playin’ tennis, well, they wasn’t allowed to join in. It was all about the amateurs, the ones who didn’t get paid, just played for the love of the game, or maybe some pride. But then, everything changed. Yep, in 1968, they opened the doors wide for the pros, and that’s when tennis as we know it today started to take shape.
Now, I’m not saying tennis wasn’t a big deal before that, but when the pros got the green light, that’s when the sport really started to shine. It was like when they let women join the workforce in the war—things just started moving quicker. Before ’68, you had your two sides: the amateurs and the professionals. And I tell ya, those professionals were stuck on the outside looking in. But come April of 1968, the Open Era started, and boy, it was a whole new ballgame!
They call it the Open Era ’cause now both the pros and the amateurs could compete together. The big change here was that players were allowed to win some real prize money. I remember how people talked about it back then—how the pros were just so eager to get their shot at those big tournaments. It wasn’t just about the trophies anymore, no sir. It was about getting paid, too.
Before ’68, if you were a professional, you had to stick to your own tournaments, away from the big, fancy ones like Wimbledon. But after 1968, they could all play in the same events, and that’s when the big-time tennis stars started making a name for themselves. And let me tell you, folks like Rod Laver, Billie Jean King, and later on, some of them big names like Federer and Serena Williams, they all helped make tennis what it is today. But all that started back in ’68.
Now, some folks might not know this, but back then, the scoring system was a bit different too. When the score got all tied up, they’d call it ‘deuce.’ Then, whoever won the next point had the ‘advantage.’ And if they lost the next one, well, they was right back at deuce again. But if they won the next point after that, they’d win the game. Sounds a bit confusing, don’t it? But that’s the way it was.
As time passed, the sport just kept growing. It was no longer just a game for the rich folks and the high society. More and more regular people started watching, and boy, did they get hooked. The tournaments got bigger, the players got better, and them crowds just kept on getting larger. Tennis was no longer just a fancy pastime for a select few—it was for everybody.
Fast forward to now, and look at tennis! It’s a global sport, with folks watching from all over the world. You got four big tournaments that everyone knows: the US Open, Wimbledon, the French Open, and the Australian Open. These are the big ones, the ones the pros aim for. And unlike back in the day, now the prize money is massive. We’re talkin’ millions of dollars, not just a couple hundred bucks or a shiny trophy.
And let me tell you, the way these players train nowadays—it’s something else. They got coaches, nutritionists, and all them fancy machines to keep them at their best. Back in the day, it was just hard work, a lot of practice, and maybe a good coach if you were lucky. But now, it’s a whole different world. They even got all these fancy racquets and gear that help ’em hit the ball harder, run faster, and play longer. Just think about it, back in ’68, they didn’t have none of that. It was all about the player’s skill, not the equipment. Now, it’s a combination of both.
But even with all these fancy tools and training methods, the heart of tennis still lies in them big tournaments. You got the US Open, which is held in New York, all flashy and fast, with that big ol’ crowd. Then you got Wimbledon in London, all proper-like, with them strawberries and cream, and don’t forget, they play on that grass court. Then you got the French Open in Paris, on them red clay courts, real slow and tough on the legs. And let’s not forget the Australian Open, played down under, where they fight the heat and them long matches.
What makes tennis special, I reckon, is how it’s always changing but always staying the same. The game itself, with all its ups and downs, that’s always been there. But the way it’s played, the way the players are treated, and the way the fans interact—that’s been changing over the years. And now, it’s a global phenomenon, with folks from all over tuning in to watch the best of the best compete. It don’t matter if you’re in the city or out in the countryside, tennis brings people together, just like it did back in 1968 when they opened it up to everyone.
So, from ’68 to now, tennis sure has come a long way. It’s a lot more than just a game on a court. It’s a big, worldwide event that brings folks together. And I reckon, for all the changes, that’s what makes it so great—no matter where you come from, you can enjoy a good match of tennis.
Tags：[Tennis History, Open Era, 1968 Tennis, Professional Tennis, Tennis Evolution, Grand Slam Tournaments, Wimbledon, US Open, Australian Open, French Open]
