For Roscoe Tanner, playing on the green clay of Coral Beach was a far cry from his past glories.

There were no ball boys, no officials and just a small crowd of fascinated spectators as the 48-year-old, credited with the fastest serve in tennis history, played in the men's doubles in the Coral Beach Invitational.

The left-hander's quickfire service action and flowing backhand stroke were still in good working order, though compared to his late 70s prime, there is now a little less weight on the serve and a little more weight on the body.

Playing with local businessman Gary Holland, the 1977 Australian Open champion started impressively with two fiercely struck clean aces in a comfortable first service game.

But the pair's wily opponents, Stephen Marks and former Argentina Davis Cup player Norberto Herrero, gradually came to terms with the Tanner serve, concentrated on keeping the ball away from him and edged to victory, 6-4, 7-6.

Tennis is just for fun these days for Tanner, once ranked fourth in the world.

His trip to the Island came about through racket supplier Robin Blackburne.

"Robin has been trying and trying to get me to come to Bermuda and now I'm happy to be here -- it's probably the most beautiful place I've ever seen,'' said Tanner.

When he partnered Blackburne in his second match of the day in the men's doubles 45, Tanner had more luck, as the pair defeated P. McGlynn and M. Hamer 6-1, 6-1.

And the draw for the next round has given them a chance of instant revenge -- they will play Herrero and Marks today.

Though lightweight, highly strung modern rackets are thought to have added power to the modern men's game, Tanner believed that when it came to serving, he could hit harder with the old wooden racket.

"I was clocked at 153 miles per hour with a wooden racket and the guys these days aren't serving that fast yet,'' said Tanner.

"The new rackets are better for groundstrokes, but there is something different about them for serving. Maybe the smaller racket heads of the wooden ones move faster through the air.'' He thought the game had improved in quality but was not necessarily better to watch.

"I think the shots these guys hit are unbelievable, they are all big and great athletes, but the tennis they play is too similar -- there is very little variety in the men's game.

"I think that's what probably makes the women's game more interesting. You get players like the Williams sisters, big and strong and hitting the ball hard, and players like Hingis, who moves the ball around the court well.'' Tanner also said his trip to Bermuda was not purely a vacation.

"I have got into tennis, fitness and health spa facilities and I have around 10 affiliations across the United States,'' said Tanner. "Now I'm looking at the possibility of having another affiliation over here. It will give me an excuse to come here more often.'' Tanner still lives in his hometown of Chatanooga, Tennessee, but is in the process of moving to Tampa, Florida.

Although he still performs on the veteran circuit, including an appearance in the doubles at Wimbledon this year, Tanner said most of his tennis was played closer to home.

"When I play now, it's usually with my 14-year-old daughter Tamara,'' said Tanner. "She's a very promising player and can serve at 95 miles per hour.'' It must be something in the Tanner genes.

Results: Page 38 Service ace: Roscoe Tanner was once clocked serving at 153mph with a wooden racket.