TENNIS : Encino’s Davis Not Slowing Down at 55

Encino’s Gordon Davis, who has won seven national age-group titles, is not concerned that his 55 years may be catching up with him.

Instead, Davis believes opposing players may be catching up with his talents.

“When I was 35, I owned these guys,” Davis said. “Now the same guys are older, but they’re tougher to beat.”

Although older than some of his competitors by as many as 10 years, Davis reached the semifinals of the National Hardcourt championships for 45-year-old players at the Westlake Tennis and Swim Club last weekend.

Davis came close to winning his fourth consecutive title at Westlake. In 1988 and 1989, he won titles in the 50-year-old division and last season Davis won the 55s.

On Aug. 24, he departs for Philadelphia to compete in the National Grass championships for 55-year-old players. He has won three titles at the tournament.

Davis was ranked No. 2 among 55-year-olds in the nation last year, which earned him a berth on a United States team of 55-year-olds that won the Austria Cup in April. He expects to be among the top five seeded players at the Philadelphia tournament, and hopes a strong showing will help earn him another berth on a U.S. team that travels to Monte Carlo next year for the Austria Cup.

It would mark the third time Davis has represented the U.S. in tournament play. In 1987, he traveled to Austria and competed for the Dubler Cup with a team of 45-year-old players.

After he turns 56 in September, he will compete in the National Hardcourt championships for 55-year-olds at Huntington Beach in October.

“It gets a little tougher each year,” Davis said. “But I’m still hitting the ball pretty good and staying in shape.”

Portnoy update: Former Granada Hills High standout Alicia Portnoy has reached Saturday’s semifinals in women’s singles and doubles at the 54th Santa Barbara Open.

Portnoy, who will be a junior at the University of North Carolina, is seeded fourth in singles and will meet No. 2 Dorey Brandt of San Diego. Brandt, who plays at San Diego State, handed Portnoy a 7-6, 6-4 loss in the tournament last year.

“I’m really looking forward to this one,” Portnoy said.

In doubles, Portnoy is teamed with longtime partner Abigail Villena of Granada Hills. They have played together for nearly 10 years.

Portnoy, 19, has played No. 3 singles the past two seasons at North Carolina and combined with Cinda Gurney in doubles to reach the NCAA championships last season. Portnoy and Gurney, who will also be a junior, finished the season ranked No. 19 in the nation.

Portnoy, who won a national amateur circuit tournament at UCLA in June, is spending her summer training at Warner Center Club’s Championship Tennis Training Center.

“I’ve always been really competitive, and college tennis has made me even more competitive in the team aspect,” she said. “It’s not just myself any more. The whole team is at stake, and I really enjoy that.”

Senior tournament: The fourth senior satellite championships will be held the next two weekends at Braemar Country Club and features several local players who are the top-seeded players.

The tournament’s divisions include men’s and women’s singles and doubles for age groups 30, 45 and 60.

Men’s top-seeded players in singles include Woodland Hills’ Eric Book (B-plus, 30), Encino’s Alan Belgard (B-plus, 45), Glendale’s Carl Wallace (C, 45) and Calabasas’ Lee Siegel (C, 30).

In women’s singles, Thousand Oaks’ Kathy Lombardo is the top-seeded player in B-plus 30. Lombardo and Yvonne Endracott of Thousand Oaks are top seeded in the B-plus division of women’s 30 doubles.

In men’s doubles, Encino’s Larry Cohen and Robert Glasser are the top-seeded players in the B-plus 45 division.

Free clinic: Volvo Tennis/Los Angeles is offering a free junior tennis clinic Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at UCLA’s Sunset Canyon Courts.

The clinic will feature a special exhibition match by tennis professionals, instruction by a sporting goods advisory staff and contest prizes.

After the clinic, youngsters are invited to attend the afternoon qualifying round of the Volvo Tennis/Los Angeles tournament.

SCTC entries: More than 600 players are expected to compete in the K-Swiss Fall Challenge Series that begins Sept. 7.

Entry fees are being accepted through Aug. 10.

The tournament, which is open to the public, is sanctioned by the United States Tennis Assn. and is believed to be the only tournament in the nation with five draws each compiled of 128 players.

It is designed to accommodate players who might have scheduling conflicts. Players are given the responsibility of contacting their opponents and organizing a playing time and location.

“Our motto is that we want scores, not defaults,” said Ron McCabe, director of the Southern California Tennis Club.

The final 16 round will be held at an undetermined location.

Oxnard festival: Three area players are seeded No. 1 at the 31st Oxnard Sports Festival that will be held the next two weekends at Oxnard Tennis Center and Radisson Suites Hotel. The tournament will feature men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles and doubles, and mixed doubles. Divisions include A, B-plus, B, C, D, and seniors. Westlake’s Tony Cohen (A men), Oxnard’s Jimmy Hosaki (B-plus men) and Ventura’s Mike Ashley (B men) are the only top-seeded players in the tournament. Players in other divisions are not seeded.

Entries for the junior tournament, which will be held Aug. 1-2, close Sunday. Information: (805) 483-2600.