Lawn tennis was introduced to America in the mid-1870s. Since then, Philadelphia has produced several top tennis players and hosted various professional tournaments. Today, the Philadelphia Freedoms, a mixed-gender professional team owned by Billie Jean King, calls the Philadelphia area home.

Initially, lawn tennis was an amateur sport. In the 1920s, some amateurs began playing professionally so that they could support themselves financially. Professionals played for prize money and denied permission to play in amateur events, including the prestigious grand slam tournaments. Eventually so many of the top players had turned pro that it diminished the quality of play in the tournaments. Finally, in 1968 Wimbledon ushered in the “Open Era” by allowing professionals to play and awarding prize money to the winners. The other grand slams followed suit, changing their names to include the word “open.”