The Open Era was founded after commercial pressures led to professional players being allowed to play alongside amateurs, meaning top players could make their living from tennis.

On that date, the British Hard Court Championships, held at the West Hants Tennis Club in the English town of Bournemouth, became the first of the 12 Open tournaments for the year sanctioned by the then International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF), marking the birth of modern professional tennis.

At that tournament, the men’s title was won by Australia’s Ken Rosewall whilst the women’s was taken by Great Britain’s Virginia Wade.

Rosewall, who went on to win 133 career titles including eight Grand Slams, said: "I can’t believe it’s been 50 years.

"The British Hard Court Championships always had a lot of history there and we were all impressed with how big that event was and a lot of surprising results.

"It was very exciting to play there in April 1968, it was my first time and as it turned out the last.

"Rod [Laver] and I played off in the final, which was delayed by rain and I was glad to win in four sets.

"Nowadays the game has grown so much, and in all sports, the players are well compensated."

"It was great that Herman David from Wimbledon and the LTA in Britain had the vision to bring the amateurs and the pros together," he continued.

"The changes have been fantastic for tennis helping the sport become more international.

"The Olympics has also helped that a lot and the top players in the world are much more international not just the Australians the Americans and the Britons as it was back then.”

Wade, winner of 55 singles titles, including three Grand Slams, added: "Bournemouth and the West Hants Tennis Club have a very special place in my heart, being born there.

"The British Hard Courts [although the surface was shale] was the first of the early tournaments that all the players got excited about and it meant even more to me in 1968 to win the first event of the Open Era.

"It’s amazing when we think of the global phenomenon tennis has become over the last 50 years and we should be very proud that British Tennis had the courage to make it all happen."

The LTA is celebrating their role in the founding of the Open Era by inviting players from that first tournament in 1968, including Sue Mappin, Frances McLennan, John Clifton and John Paish, along with potential stars of British tennis to an event on Sunday (April 29) to play in several exhibition matches.