The 71-year-old returns to the Seniors Games for a second year after taking out last year’s tournament with his Australian team mates in New Zealand.

Playing in the 70s division, Mr Harkin and three other members of the Australian team will compete against 23 countries in both singles and doubles events. Despite having a degree of pessimism about his team’s chances Mr Harkin is excited to participate in the games.

“I’m not confident of winning but I am very pleased about going and playing for the country,” he said.

“I’m interested to see what the European clay courts will be like because I’ve never played on them before, we usually play on natural or synthetic grass.”

A member of the Forster Tennis Club, Mr Harkin is one of many champions to grace its courts, including Margaret Wayte and Frank Pitt, who were both involved in former Seniors World Tennis Championships.

In a fitting send off, the club held a Turkish Delight Night for the Forster local last week, complete with a traditional belly dancer.

In the red and gold decorated clubhouse, club captain Ossie and assistant coach Darcy, dressed as traders in flowing robes and fez caps, greeted visitors and bargained with them for the sale of lucky door numbers.

Mr Harkin will return to Australia later this month.