No 53-year-old player will ever contend for grand slam in tennis

Greg Norman, the 53-year-old Australian golfer, made a remarkable run at the British Open two weeks ago. Ireland's Padraig Harrington defended his title, but the Shark created a lot of buzz during the tournament.

Don't expect a similar feat at a grand slam in tennis. The oldest tennis player to win a grand slam is Arthur Gore, of Great Britain, who won Wimbledon at age 41 in 1909. In the modern era, Ken Rosewall, of Australia, was 37 when he captured the Australian Open in 1972. Jimmy Connors reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open at 39 in 1991.

These were unique accomplishments. Most pro tennis players retire before age 30. A few like Andre Agassi, Connors and Rosewall play after 30 with success.

 The reason for earlier retirement and fewer older champions is that tennis requires more athleticism, in particular more foot speed.  Golf requires less athleticism but more mental acuity.

Women's 4.5 team at Sectional: The CSRA women's 4.5 team competed this past week at the USTA League Southern Section Championships in Mobile, Ala. The team finished 0-4, with six wins and 14 losses. Captain Maria Svensson Costa finished 3-1 overall with a 2-0 record in singles and 1-1 in doubles. Cheri Hain was also 3-1, all in doubles matches. Also competing were Kathy Thornton, Amy Lowe, Sally Sterling, Julie Luther, Lori Thatcher and Kelly Hayes.

Local juniors at the Georgia State Closed: Sisters Kyla and Kyra Scott, of Martinez, won their age divisions at the Georgia State Junior Closed Championships last week at Newman Tennis Center.

Kyla won the Girls 12s, defeating Jessica Cramer, of Marietta, 6-0, 6-3 in the final. Kyra took the Girls 14s, beating top-seeded Linda Shin, of Duluth, 6-4, 6-1 in the final. Unfortunately, the Scotts will be moving soon to Orange County, Calif. Michelle Scott, Kyla and Kyra's mother, has done an outstanding job as the Junior Tennis League coordinator for the past several years.

In the Boys 14s, Taylor Powell, of Martinez, lost in the quarterfinals to champion Elliot Orkin, of Marietta, 6-1, 6-0. Orkin lost on six games in four matches. Powell received the Boys Sportsmanship Award.

In the Boys 16s, Cory Jenkinson, of Evans, fell in the quarterfinals to Alex Drexinger, of Alpharetta, 7-6, 6-2.

In the Boys 18s, Kenneth Mooney, of Martinez, reached the semfinals, where he withdrew to play in Zonals in North Carolina.

In the Girls 10s, Kelee Smiley, of Augusta, lost in the semifinals to Mallory Gilmer, of Woodstock, 6-3, 7-5.

In the Girls 16s, E'lysia Ortiz, of Augusta, fell in the semifinals to champion Bailey Dodge, of Lawrenceville, 6-2, 6-0.

In Girls 18s, Kay Barksdale, of Martinez, lost in the quarterfinals to Caffrey Francis, of Kennesaw, 6-1, 6-4. Shikha Jerath, of Martinez, won the Girls 18s consolation, defeating Courtney Chaney, of McDonough, in an injury walkover.