The Open Era is the modern period of tennis that began in 1968. Before this time, professional players were not allowed to compete in the major Grand Slam tournaments. Only amateur players who did not get paid could play in events like Wimbledon or the US Open.
This change allowed the best players in the world to compete against each other for prize money. It led to a massive increase in the popularity and professionalism of the sport. For example, a commentator mentions that a player has won the most titles in the Open Era.
This means their record is being compared to all the great professionals since 1968. This period brought about better television coverage, bigger stadiums, and much higher athletic standards. It is the reason tennis is the global, multi-million dollar sport we see today.
Most historical records in tennis are divided between the pre-1968 years and the current era. It represents the birth of professional tennis as we know it. The level of competition has never been higher than it is now.
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