A 2016 ITF record
One of Falkenberg’s documented milestones came on April 10, 2016, when she defeated 22-year-old Rosalyn Small 6-0, 6-1 in qualifying at a tournament in Pelham, Alabama. Guinness World Records identifies Falkenberg, then 69 years and 85 days old, as the oldest match-winner on the ITF circuit. According to Guinness World Records, the win came after 32 consecutive losses dating back to her previous professional victory in 1998. The next day, Falkenberg lost 6-0, 6-0 to Taylor Townsend, winning 12 points.
Playing and coaching
Falkenberg played on UCLA’s first women’s tennis team as a walk-on and also played basketball there from 1964 to 1970, the New York Post reports. Guinness says she joined the professional tour at 38, reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 360 in December 1987, and won the USTA National Public Parks Singles Championship in 1983. The Ocala Gazette reports that she won a match at the 1988 Australian Open.
The New York Post reports that Falkenberg coached UCF’s women’s and men’s tennis teams from 1991 to 1999 and served as interim head coach of its women’s basketball team for one season. She left the tennis program with a 132-43 record. UCF Athletics reported in its 2025 season recap that Bryan Koniecko surpassed her program record that year. The Post says Falkenberg now works at Stone Creek Tennis Center in Ocala.
Senior participation in the wider game
The USTA’s 2025 U.S. Tennis Participation Report, based on 2024 data, cited notable momentum among senior participants in the broader tennis population. That finding indicates momentum but does not, on its own, quantify how common tennis participation is among older adults.
The latest tournament appearance
At 79, Falkenberg entered qualifying at the ITF W35 tournament in Orlando on November 2 and lost 6-0, 6-0 to 19-year-old Aspen Schuman, according to EssentiallySports. The New York Post reports that Schuman was ranked No. 1 nationally in her high-school class. Infobae gives Falkenberg’s professional record as 15 wins and 122 losses.
The New York Post reports that Falkenberg hopes to win another professional match before her 80th birthday in January. That reported goal is separate from her documented 2016 record.
