I believe it was ('Ace') Arthur Ashe in 1968, which year began the 'Open Era'.
19 : )
In Wimbledon "the open era", no englishman has won the title.
Jimmy Connors played tennis. Connors holds the record for most titles in the Open Era with 109, Open Era match wins with 1222. He was a very dominant player during his time, and is now a part time commentator for a majority of the Tennis Grand Slams.
The very first tennis champion may never be known, as the game's roots and history have made such information lost to time. Arguably, the first professional tennis champion prior to the advent of the Open Era of tennis is Spencer Gore, 1877, at Wimbledon.
Tennis has come a long way from its inception. From Amateur era it has ventured into open era. Wooden rackets have been replaced with modern composite material equipment. A very different code of clothes is also in vogue now.
Get a shop - fill it with tennis stuff - open it
Asian Open - tennis - was created in 1992.
Asian Open - tennis - ended in 1994.
Irish Open - tennis - was created in 1879.
Mexican Open - tennis - was created in 1993.
Canadian Open - tennis - was created in 1881.