By David Graham

Local tennis champion and former world number 80 Bob Morgan returned from the Gold Coast last week after a solid week's competition. 

Morgan was competing in the Australian Teams event at Miami courts. All states of Australia were represented with about 800 players in attendance.

After a second New South Wales 80 men's team could not be formed due to a number of players falling ill, Bob "bunked in" with a Victorian team which was placed fourth at the end of the round robin event. 

Bob was quite pleased with his play but commented on the very high humidity in Queensland which resulted in many players unable to finish sets and matches due to dehydration and heat exhaustion. 

One team started the week with eight in the team on day one, and was reduced to only two players at the end of the week-long event.

David O Keefe, a Kiama Tennis Club stalwart, represented NSW in the 55's team event. 

David competed against other teams in the 50 Age bracket and “found the going very tough,” he said. 

The top Qld 50's team had Scott Draper as their number One player. Scott Draper played the ATP circuit reaching number 44 in the world in singles with a highlight of winning the Australian Mixed doubles championship with Sam Stosur in 2005.

Other Illawarra players to represent the state were Manual Radic, Helen Shea, Cathy Benson and Anne Rouse all from Wollongong.

Bob Morgan will team up with Wilco Dal Haas from Minnamurra in the Aged Men's doubles at the Ulladulla Masters tournament at the end of February.