![50 years ago, Wimbledon welcomed professionals for the first time... and the modern game was born | Daily Mail Online 50 years ago, Wimbledon welcomed professionals for the first time... and the modern game was born | Daily Mail Online](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/23/22/4B78836600000578-5648759-image-a-4_1524517962438.jpg)
50 years ago, Wimbledon welcomed professionals for the first time... and the modern game was born | Daily Mail Online
![Englishman, Mark Cox was the first 'player' to defeat a professional, when he beat Pancho Gonzalez at Bournemouth in 1968 Stock Photo - Alamy Englishman, Mark Cox was the first 'player' to defeat a professional, when he beat Pancho Gonzalez at Bournemouth in 1968 Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/WH9130/englishman-mark-cox-was-the-first-player-to-defeat-a-professional-when-he-beat-pancho-gonzalez-at-bournemouth-in-1968-WH9130.jpg)
Englishman, Mark Cox was the first 'player' to defeat a professional, when he beat Pancho Gonzalez at Bournemouth in 1968 Stock Photo - Alamy
![British tennis player Mark Cox prepares to strike the ball during a... Fotografía de noticias - Getty Images British tennis player Mark Cox prepares to strike the ball during a... Fotografía de noticias - Getty Images](https://media.gettyimages.com/id/3294335/es/foto/british-tennis-player-mark-cox-prepares-to-strike-the-ball-during-a-match-at-the-wimbledon-lawn.jpg?s=1024x1024&w=gi&k=20&c=BnD98F-AzhC8zOjpJK3eiP20uSjr7uaR_DWq0YEdmzw=)