Did the start of the Open Era in 1968 really change much for women's tennis?

Wrecker

New User
For the men's it changed a lot of things but on the women's side I dont see much difference. The same players continued to play in the Slams and the competition didnt change massively. I see 1973 as a more important year due to formation of WTA

Would like to hear your thoughts.
 

Enceladus

Legend
For women's tennis, the beginning of the Open era also represented a change, just this change was different from that of men's tennis. It is a mistake to think that women's tennis before 1968 didn't lose players. Female tennis was losing them, the difference with male tennis was that male players switched to Kramer's pro-circuit while female players prematurely ended their careers, but some of them played paid exhibitions.

Althea Gibson's commentary on this topic is eloquent:
"The truth, to put it bluntly, is that my finances were in heartbreaking shape," she wrote. "Being the Queen of Tennis is all well and good, but you can't eat a crown. Nor can you send the Internal Revenue Service a throne clipped to their tax forms. The landlord and grocer and tax collector are funny that way: they like cold cash ... I reign over an empty bank account, and I'm not going to fill it by playing amateur tennis."

Tennis has become a source of earnings for male and female tennis players thanks to the Open Era.
 

Wrecker

New User
For women's tennis, the beginning of the Open era also represented a change, just this change was different from that of men's tennis. It is a mistake to think that women's tennis before 1968 didn't lose players. Female tennis was losing them, the difference with male tennis was that male players switched to Kramer's pro-circuit while female players prematurely ended their careers, but some of them played paid exhibitions.

Althea Gibson's commentary on this topic is eloquent:


Tennis has become a source of earnings for male and female tennis players thanks to the Open Era.

It definitely changed with regards to money and even more so in 1970-71 when BJK began to demand for equal money and formed the Virginia Slims circuit. But competitively did the field become bigger and stronger like it did with the men's? Because the top players of the 60s more or less remained the top players till 1973-74 until Evert and Navratilova took over (and Evonne in the early 70s)

And Gibson to my knowledge was one of the very few who switched to pro circuit. Other 60s stars like Court, King, Richey, Ann Jones, Bueno remained in the amateur circuit.
 

thrust

Legend
For the men's it changed a lot of things but on the women's side I dont see much difference. The same players continued to play in the Slams and the competition didnt change massively. I see 1973 as a more important year due to formation of WTA

Would like to hear your thoughts.
All top female players were eligible to compete in slams and all the other tournaments before 1968, as there was NO women's pro tour as in the men's game. Some past prime players, like Althea Gibson, played exhibition match tours for money. Most fans back then knew little, if anything, about the men's pro tour, as the amateur associations did not want the top amateurs to join the pro tour. Emerson is an example of a top player who was paid, under the table, so he would not join the pro tour which diminished his slam achievements.
 

DMP

Professional
All top female players were eligible to compete in slams and all the other tournaments before 1968, as there was NO women's pro tour as in the men's game. Some past prime players, like Althea Gibson, played exhibition match tours for money. Most fans back then knew little, if anything, about the men's pro tour, as the amateur associations did not want the top amateurs to join the pro tour. Emerson is an example of a top player who was paid, under the table, so he would not join the pro tour which diminished his slam achievements.

I would disagree that most fans knew little, if anything, about the men's pro circuit. We certainly knew it existed, and who the important players were, and that they were probably the best in the world. We just didn't see them play, we just got reports of results in the newspaper. They were sort of mythical, but definitely not unknown.

On the women's side the change was more gradual then the men's. The men's change was a big bang which exploded quickly. The women's change was more a steady attrition, spearheaded by BJK and those supporting her. The Riggs match was a big turning point, but even then not as explosive as the change in the men's game.
 

thrust

Legend
I would disagree that most fans knew little, if anything, about the men's pro circuit. We certainly knew it existed, and who the important players were, and that they were probably the best in the world. We just didn't see them play, we just got reports of results in the newspaper. They were sort of mythical, but definitely not unknown.

On the women's side the change was more gradual then the men's. The men's change was a big bang which exploded quickly. The women's change was more a steady attrition, spearheaded by BJK and those supporting her. The Riggs match was a big turning point, but even then not as explosive as the change in the men's game.
I would disagree that most fans knew little, if anything, about the men's pro circuit. We certainly knew it existed, and who the important players were, and that they were probably the best in the world. We just didn't see them play, we just got reports of results in the newspaper. They were sort of mythical, but definitely not unknown.

On the women's side the change was more gradual then the men's. The men's change was a big bang which exploded quickly. The women's change was more a steady attrition, spearheaded by BJK and those supporting her. The Riggs match was a big turning point, but even then not as explosive as the change in the men's game.
There were NO top women playing on a pro tour before 1968, because the was NONE. ALL top women played in sanctioned tournaments and slams before the open era began. The only thing that changed for women players was that they could now legally play for money. In the men's game most of the best players were on the pro tour before 68, which is why the open era applies to the men's game because the top pro players could now play the slams, etc..
 

BTURNER

Legend
Stage 1. There was virtually no change prior to 1975.
The women already at the very top had, by definition, enough independent wealth security to stay at the top and the sea of women below were kroll moving around the lower levels unnoticed until they died off or married someone who could and would provide them the security to pursue a shot at the surface.

Stage 2 By mid 70's, money from Virginia Slims, began flowing in to support and the impact of a WTA brought more stability throughout the top ten to 15 or so who could reach the quarters or semis often enough to stay on the tour throughout most of the year and provide some depth, while fame from television coverage offered the first real sponsorship deals to the stars and more security to the venues being promoted on television. Meanwhile careers were longer at the top secondary to the immeasurable impact of The Pill and safe abortion access. Players were able to plan pregnancy and maternity

Stage 3 late 1970's was when the first generation of young girl stars like Austin or Jaeger who were be seen as money producers for their respective families or as national assets across the Iron curton like Mandlikova, Sukova etc, as opposed to drains. Coaching camps, national development programs now had the dollars behind them to groom talent consistently at all levels. That brought significant improvement to quality and visibility of the tier 2 women competing and there was enough start 'star power' and money flowing for a dramatic explosion of events on the calender. A generation of mothers as well as fathers, could also provide income to the household, as the women's movement offered more chances for steady income outside of a very narrow jobs.

Stage 4 now the impact of title VIIII was felt in the states with more support for tennis programs in schools and college programs but the number of events that television could support saw its limits . The purses in the top three rounds soared as tournaments began a desperate attempt to attract stars to maintain viewership levels in the face of saturation . Top women could afford nutritionists, conditioning regimes, and access the very best sports medicine money could buy. The power of the WTA was complete and total . the Grand Slams became required attendance, and that same television coverage put more pressure in improve officiating.
 
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DMP

Professional
Stage 1. There was virtually no change prior to 1975.
The women already at the very top had, by definition, enough independent wealth security to stay at the top and the sea of women below were kroll moving around the lower levels unnoticed until they died off or married someone who could and would provide them the security to pursue a shot at the surface.

Stage 2 By mid 70's, money from Virginia Slims, began flowing in to support and the impact of a WTA brought more stability throughout the top ten to 15 or so who could reach the quarters or semis often enough to stay on the tour throughout most of the year and provide some depth, while fame from television coverage offered the first real sponsorship deals to the stars and more security to the venues being promoted on television. Meanwhile careers were longer at the top secondary to the immeasurable impact of The Pill and safe abortion access. Players were able to plan pregnancy and maternity

Stage 3 late 1970's was when the first generation of young girl stars like Austin or Jaeger who were be seen as money producers for their respective families or as national assets across the Iron curton like Mandlikova, Sukova etc, as opposed to drains. Coaching camps, national development programs now had the dollars behind them to groom talent consistently at all levels. That brought significant improvement to quality and visibility of the tier 2 women competing and there was enough start 'star power' and money flowing for a dramatic explosion of events on the calender. A generation of mothers as well as fathers, could also provide income to the household, as the women's movement offered more chances for steady income outside of a very narrow jobs.

Stage 4 now the impact of title VIIII was felt in the states with more support for tennis programs in schools and college programs but the number of events that television could support saw its limits . The purses in the top three rounds soared as tournaments began a desperate attempt to attract stars to maintain viewership levels in the face of saturation . Top women could afford nutritionists, conditioning regimes, and access the very best sports medicine money could buy. The power of the WTA was complete and total . the Grand Slams became required attendance, and that same television coverage put more pressure in improve officiating.

Thanks. A very good summary of how I remember it. You've saved me elaborating on my initial post!
 

BTURNER

Legend
As I reread my post, I am left thinking that somehow I left the impression that there is this great meritocracy now whereby young girls can reach for the stars, and get the right coaches, camps and resources based on their talent. We are far, far away from that.

Merit/ talent can eventually repay a very large debt incurred thanks to professional tennis and some national talent programs but if you don't get lucky in where you are born, who your parents are, who your parents know, and happen upon some infusions of money at the necessary moments, you are likely to go nowhere. This is an expensive upper middle class or rich persons sport with impacts of social class division, racism etc. as inevitable impediments, leaving a lot of very athletically gifted young girls to end up as waitresses, caregivers or baby mommas.
 
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Tshooter

G.O.A.T.
...The women's change was more a steady attrition, spearheaded by BJK and those supporting her. The Riggs match was a big turning point, but even then not as explosive as the change in the men's game.

Spearheaded not by BJK but by Gladys Heldman who had been pushing the USLTA for change since the 50s.

I think a bigger turning point than the Riggs match was the USLTA settling Heldman's and King's lawsuit in 1973 and agreeing to a unified women's circuit and to stop all the banning threats.



It definitely changed with regards to money and even more so in 1970-71 when BJK began to demand for equal money and formed the Virginia Slims circuit. ..

No Gladys Heldman, no Virginia Slims Circuit. Heldman was the driving force.


"“Without Gladys Heldman, there wouldn't be women's professional tennis,” said Billie Jean King. “She was a passionate advocate for women tennis players and, as the driving force behind the start of the Virginia Slims Tour in 1970, she helped change the face of women's sports.""
 
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BTURNER

Legend
Just like every other major change, it takes the right time, the right set of circumstances, and the right people being in the right position to move things forward. You needed Heldman, Joe Cullman and the Kings in alliance. That's right, both of them

"In 1971, Larry King conceived the idea of a professional tennis tour for women and helped organize a group of nine (the Original Nine) top women players: Billie Jean King, Rosie Casals, Judy Dalton, Julie Heldman, Kerry Melville, Peaches Bartkowicz. Kristy Pigeon, Nancy Richey, and Valerie Ziegenfuss. He obtained the backing of Gladys Heldman of World Tennis Magazine and Joe Cullman, CEO of Philip Morris, and the Virginia Slims pro circuit was started."

"Behind the scenes, Joseph Fredrick Cullman III brought tennis into the homes of millions. He was a driving force in securing television coverage for the US Open in 1968, which coincided with the switch from amateur to professional tennis, known as the Open Era. He helped grow America’s premier tennis event as Chairman of the US Open in 1969-70. Joining forces with Gladys Heldman in 1970, Cullman developed the Virginia Slims Circuit, backed by his company, Philip Morris. The circuit enabled female players to compete on their own tour for the first time, creating a necessary windfall of financial support and revenue.
 
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