Amazingly, the show’s not that hot

Checked out the NBC reality dating show “Age of Love” Monday night, and it seems to reveal a certain lack of range on the part of tennis player Mark Philippoussis.

His comments on Lauren, a 27-year-old he nonetheless eliminated:

“She looked hot. She looked hot. What can I say? She looked hot.”

The show pits women in their 20s against women in their 40s for the affections of Philippoussis, 30.

Three contestants already have been sent home.

But Jennifer Braff, 48, who has modeled swimsuits and lingerie and works as one of “about three” executive assistants to Lakers owner Jerry Buss, the team confirmed, is a survivor.

“Jennifer was catching my eye. She was looking hot,” said Philippoussis, who was taken aback to learn Braff has a 25-year-old son.

“Jennifer could be my mom,” he said. “Just the thought of that kind of freaks me out.”

Reviews of the show haven’t been sparkling. Nor was Lauren’s review of Philippoussis.

“Unresponsive,” “distant” and “way too serious,” she called him.

Of course, it’s worth remembering that in tennis terms, love ain’t grand.

Philippoussis reached the Wimbledon final against Roger Federer in 2003 but isn’t in the tournament this year after struggling with injuries and falling to No. 144 in the world.

Trivia time

Who was the last person to win the Wimbledon singles, doubles and mixed doubles championships in the same year?

A better match

Our guess is that Andy Roddick, who in the past has dated Mandy Moore and been linked with Maria Sharapova, would have made a livelier bachelor for “Age of Love.”

This week, Roddick said he and Justin Gimelstob had a contest going about who would dive for the most balls during their first-round Wimbledon match, won by Roddick.

“It was real close. A couple of them, he didn’t have to dive,” Roddick said. “Then we had a bet. He said he would be the first person in history to dive during the warmup. I actually messed that one up ‘cause I was supposed to hit a ball away from him that he could dive to, and I missed three passing shots instead.

“Unfortunately, he does not own that dubious distinction because of me.”

In da House

Mike Ditka appeared in front of a House subcommittee Tuesday for a hearing on medical disability issues facing retired NFL players.

As Ditka loudly made a point, one of the representatives started to say, “I don’t want to quarrel with Mr. Ditka.”

Subcommittee Chairwoman Linda T. Sanchez (D-Lakewood) quickly jumped in:

“I wouldn’t recommend it,” she said.

Old-timers’ Day

A record seven pitchers in their 40s are scheduled to start major league games today:

The New York Yankees’ Roger Clemens (44), Philadelphia’s Jamie Moyer (44), Detroit’s Kenny Rogers (42), San Diego’s Greg Maddux (41), the New York Mets’ Tom Glavine (41), Houston’s Woody Williams (40) and Atlanta’s John Smoltz (40).

Just don’t expect them all to be able to read the box scores without squinting.

Girl power

Before 12-year-old Alexis Thompson became the youngest to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open, Morgan Pressel held that honor.

Pressel, now 19, recently looked back at images of herself playing in the 2001 Open.

“I asked myself who dressed me, that’s what I ask myself,” she said. “Fashion’s changed a bit in six years, put it that way.

“But it’s cute. They’re cute pictures. It’s always nice to look back.”

Trivia answer

Billie Jean King, in 1973.

And finally

Pressel said questions about Thompson and her own Open debut six years ago made her feel “really old.”

“I just turned 19. I’m getting up there. I’m almost in the 20s, geez, another year.”

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robyn.norwood@latimes.com