Tennis Open Era
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The Open Era in tennis began in 1968, when the Grand Slam events such as the Wimbledon Championships abandoned the longstanding rules of amateurism and allowed professionals to compete.
Professionals, hitherto a rather small part of the tennis scene, swiftly achieved overwhelming dominance.
Open Era Facts/Records
- 2003
- Jennifer Capriati (USA) became the first women in the Open Era to lose in the first round as a defending champion. (Anastasia Myskina would follow her example at the 2005 French Open).
- 2004
- Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) lost in the first round at Wimbledon and became the first reigning French Open champion to do that.