# What does open tennis mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 28, 2001, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-open-tennis-mean/90150 "2001-10-28T20:31:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OESGal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecae2f/32.png) [@OESGal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OESGal)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-open-tennis-mean/90150/1 "2001-10-28T20:31:18Z")
What does the term open tennis actually mean? As in the US Open, French Open, etc. Can’t find any kind of definition on any tennis websites like USTA homepage or US Open homepage either. Thanks a bunch. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-open-tennis-mean/90150/2 "2001-10-28T21:18:28Z")
I think it’s in opposition to an invitational, where only certain contestants are ‘invited’. Theoretically an open is open to all. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-open-tennis-mean/90150/3 "2001-10-28T21:51:07Z")
What **mack** said and also that both professionals and amateurs are premitted to play. Back just a few years ago there were very defined limits who could take part in one or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@Lady\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_Ice)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-open-tennis-mean/90150/4 "2001-10-28T21:52:09Z")
Mack is correct, but to be a little more specific. Open means that both professionals and amatuers can compete in the tournament. I don’t know when they changed the rules, but only amatuers were allowed to play before. The U.S. Open is also named The United States Tennis Association Championships. I think is the name it has always gone by. I believe they added the U.S. Open after they changed the rule and allowed professionals to compete too. I don’t know about the French or Austrailian Opens. I would think it’s a similiar situation. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-open-tennis-mean/90150/5 "2001-10-29T01:16:57Z")
The number of competitors, however, is limited. The top players who want to play are automatically in the tournament, with the highest ranking players being seeded. Any body else can compete for the remaining slots in the “Qualifers.” Sometimes special dispensation will be afforded a player who is not currently rated very high based on past performances, without his going through the qualifying rounds. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-open-tennis-mean/90150/6 "2001-10-29T01:32:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lady Ice \* > \*\* > Open means that both professionals and amatuers can compete in the tournament. I don’t know when they changed the rules, but only amatuers were allowed to play before. > > \*\* The open era began in 1968. Rod Laver, who had won a grand slam as an amateur in 1962, was able to win another in 1969 after 5 years as a pro. At the [Forest Hills](http://www.foresthillstennis.com/tennis.htm) site titles before 1968 are referred to as “U.S. championships”, afterwards as U.S. Opens.