Uploaded December 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Tennis Before the Open Era
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Watch our most recent videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCj0NjN1EnBmSyGqOq--PJz8S0ReoBYPW
Amateurs versus Professionals. For decades, the fundamental conflict that existed, to a greater or lesser degree, in most major sports that emerged from England at the end of the 19th century.
The distinction was not one of accomplishment or ability, as we might understand now, but had more to do with class.
"Amateur" was the athletic version of "gentleman", a man of inherited means who didn't need to play a sport for money. In a tennis context, having the leisure time to hone one’s skills on court was a sign of status. The professional, on the other hand, had to serve and volley for his living.
Footage:
[1] BFI: Tennis World Championships Open at Wimbledon (1921):
youtube.com/watch?v=ruTTO9hU_6E&t=23s
[2] urmaddad: 1920s William Tilden Silent Instructional Tennis Vintage Film: youtube.com/watch?v=QhCbhDdbqbE
[3] historycomestolife: Wimbledon Tennis Suzanne Lenglen 1925: youtube.com/watch?v=qnIGMUAkqcU&t=20s
[4] BFI: Tennis World Championships Open at Wimbledon (1921):
youtube.com/watch?v=ruTTO9hU_6E
[5] Kodiak CGB: Helen Wills v Suzanne Lenglen:
youtube.com/watch?v=Thkch28ngyw&t=5s
[6] GammaRayDigital: Tennis - Longwood1940:
youtube.com/watch?v=1RCv6J7h-LQ
[7] John Meyer: 1960 USLTA River Forest Clay Courts Tennis:
youtube.com/watch?v=cz3li_tUlok
[8] GammaRayDigital: Tennis match - Possibly Newport, RI, 1960s? 1970s?: youtube.com/watch?v=7nd7YqmMyDg
Music:
After The Rain by Silver Maple
From Epidemic Sound
Subscribe to the 'Baseline Exchanges' Podcast:
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Audioboom:
audioboom.com/channels/5038535
Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/5gfImDKXgsg2L2HQKgx0WW
Stitcher:
stitcher.com/podcast/baseline-exchanges
Deezer:
deezer.com/show/2102652
Listen Notes:
listennotes.com/c/74b12d10838445569d3e2286593fb8f2
Podcast Addict:
podcastaddict.com/podcast/3191695
Podchaser:
podchaser.com/podcasts/baseline-exchanges-1572182
RadioPublic:
radiopublic.com/baseline-exchanges-GMp0ZZ
Follow Baseline Media on the socials:
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About Baseline Tennis:
Baseline Tennis adds colour and context to the stories behind the game – both familiar and lesser-known.
Standing apart from the maelstrom of the 24/7 news cycle, Baseline Tennis provides informative, engaging and intelligent content on the past, present and future of the game, focusing on the stories that matter.
Our videos combine 3D imagery, motion graphics, archive footage, graphical illustrations and sound, to create rich and vivid storytelling, bringing the viewer immersive profiles of players, tournaments, key moments from history, the skills of the game and major discussion points.
It's tennis. But viewed differently.
#tennis #shamateurism #openera
Tennis Before the Open Era
Subscribe: tinyurl.com/BaselineTennis | 🔔Make sure to enable all push notifications!🔔
Watch our most recent videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCj0NjN1EnBmSyGqOq--PJz8S0ReoBYPW
Amateurs versus Professionals. For decades, the fundamental conflict that existed, to a greater or lesser degree, in most major sports that emerged from England at the end of the 19th century.
The distinction was not one of accomplishment or ability, as we might understand now, but had more to do with class.
"Amateur" was the athletic version of "gentleman", a man of inherited means who didn't need to play a sport for money. In a tennis context, having the leisure time to hone one’s skills on court was a sign of status. The professional, on the other hand, had to serve and volley for his living.
Footage:
[1] BFI: Tennis World Championships Open at Wimbledon (1921):
youtube.com/watch?v=ruTTO9hU_6E&t=23s
[2] urmaddad: 1920s William Tilden Silent Instructional Tennis Vintage Film: youtube.com/watch?v=QhCbhDdbqbE
[3] historycomestolife: Wimbledon Tennis Suzanne Lenglen 1925: youtube.com/watch?v=qnIGMUAkqcU&t=20s
[4] BFI: Tennis World Championships Open at Wimbledon (1921):
youtube.com/watch?v=ruTTO9hU_6E
[5] Kodiak CGB: Helen Wills v Suzanne Lenglen:
youtube.com/watch?v=Thkch28ngyw&t=5s
[6] GammaRayDigital: Tennis - Longwood1940:
youtube.com/watch?v=1RCv6J7h-LQ
[7] John Meyer: 1960 USLTA River Forest Clay Courts Tennis:
youtube.com/watch?v=cz3li_tUlok
[8] GammaRayDigital: Tennis match - Possibly Newport, RI, 1960s? 1970s?: youtube.com/watch?v=7nd7YqmMyDg
Music:
After The Rain by Silver Maple
From Epidemic Sound
Subscribe to the 'Baseline Exchanges' Podcast:
Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/baseline-exchanges/id1546010081?uo=4
Google Podcasts:
google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hdWRpb2Jvb20uY29tL2NoYW5uZWxzLzUwMzg1MzUucnNz
Audioboom:
audioboom.com/channels/5038535
Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/5gfImDKXgsg2L2HQKgx0WW
Stitcher:
stitcher.com/podcast/baseline-exchanges
Deezer:
deezer.com/show/2102652
Listen Notes:
listennotes.com/c/74b12d10838445569d3e2286593fb8f2
Podcast Addict:
podcastaddict.com/podcast/3191695
Podchaser:
podchaser.com/podcasts/baseline-exchanges-1572182
RadioPublic:
radiopublic.com/baseline-exchanges-GMp0ZZ
Follow Baseline Media on the socials:
Website: baseline-media.com
Instagram: instagram.com/baselinemedia_
TikTok: tiktok.com/@baselinemedia_
Twitter: twitter.com/BaselineMedia_
About Baseline Tennis:
Baseline Tennis adds colour and context to the stories behind the game – both familiar and lesser-known.
Standing apart from the maelstrom of the 24/7 news cycle, Baseline Tennis provides informative, engaging and intelligent content on the past, present and future of the game, focusing on the stories that matter.
Our videos combine 3D imagery, motion graphics, archive footage, graphical illustrations and sound, to create rich and vivid storytelling, bringing the viewer immersive profiles of players, tournaments, key moments from history, the skills of the game and major discussion points.
It's tennis. But viewed differently.
#tennis #shamateurism #openera
