Oldest match-winner on the ITF circuit

Gail Falkenberg (USA, b. 16 January 1947) became an internet sensation after defeating an opponent 47 years her junior in the first qualifying round of an International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament in Pelham, Alabama, USA, on 10 April 2016. The sprightly grandmother, who had a career-high singles ranking of 360 in December 1987 and has won just $10,074 (£8,208) in career prize money, was 69 years 85 days old when she beat the 22-year-old American Rosalyn Small (b. 22 June 1993) 6–0, 6–1 on clay at an ITF Futures event, using her under-arm serve and perfectly executed net shots to devastating effect throughout the match.

In the second round of qualifying on 11 April 2016, Falkenberg lost 6–0, 6–0 to Taylor Townsend (USA, b. 16 April 1996) in just 36 min, winning just 12 points. Once the top-ranked junior player in the world, Townsend has a career-high singles ranking of 94 (February 2015). She was 19 years 361 days old when she took on Falkenberg, who, at 69 years 86 days old, was 49 years 90 days older.

"I know I can keep getting better," Falkenberg told The Wall Street Journal after her match with Townsend. "There's always something to work on with tennis. I'd love to be playing – and winning – at 70. I'm six months away from that."

According to her ITF profile, Falkenberg won $68 (£48) for her run to the second round of qualifying (round of 32) in Pelham. The tournament's total prize fund was $25,000 (£17,700).

Since her success in Pelham, Falkenberg has played eight qualifying matches on the ITF circuit and lost them all (as of 4 November 2016). In her next tournament, on 9 May 2016 in Naples, Florida, Falkenberg (by this time 69 years 114 days old) lost 6–3, 7–6 to Spain's Victoria Sanchez Bronzetti (b. 1 April 2001). Falkenberg is 54 years 75 days older than Bronzetti, and this is believed to be the biggest ever age differential for two opponents on the ITF or the WTA (Women's Tennis Association) circuits.

Falkenberg joined the professional tour at the age of 38. Before defeating Small, Falkenberg last won a match in 1998, since when she'd racked up 32 successive defeats, before and after her 12-year retirement in 1999. A career highlight was winning the USTA (United States Tennis Association) National Public Parks Singles Championship in 1983.

She returned to action in 2011, aged 64.