Groombridge, the newest club in Sussex, has begun this season in upbeat mood.

The village club, which officially opened last October, survived a baptism of fire, or rather floods, through its first winter.

Now, following the scheduled mixed generations inter-club event, it has a blueprint that escaped the soaking.

It wants to:

Open a clubhouse in two months.

Push the membership back up to last year's figure of 260.

Continue its coaching link with St Thomas' primary school.

Encourage a junior development programme.

Build a fourth court.

Chairman Robert Katzaros said: "Things are looking very encouraging for us. The clubhouse is very important in our first phase of development.

"Already the membership renewals are 210 and we are hopeful of reaching 260, which is a big membership for a village club. We have a good balance between children and adults, males and females.

"Our coaching sessions in St Thomas' strengthen our links with the local community and coach Jaana Parker will keep helping to run our junior programme at the club, something she has been able to do right through the winter despite everything. We have youngsters from as young as five and it is important to guarantee the club's future by encouraging them.

"We have planning permission in for a fourth court.

"The weather has caused flooding but it did not cause any structural damage. We are just waiting for the courts to dry some more."

Members secretary Sue Harrison added: "We've had amazing support from the village and its outreaches. We had a lot of volunteers to help clean up after the floods."

The club's three hard courts were built with a £40,000 loan from the Sussex LTA.

Katzaros said: "The county LTA have been very supportive because most of our members are new players. That is what the governing body is trying to encourage all over the country."

Kimberly Dell, 20, from Eastbourne, has moved into the world wheelchair tennis top ten for the first time after impressive results in America.

She reached the quarter-finals of the Florida Open in Boca Raton, overcoming world No.7 Angela Maas (Holland) 6-0, 6-4 after receiving a bye before beating world ranked No.58 Rosalva Vazquez (Mexico) 6-1, 6-1.

Kimberly, seeded five, defeated Maas in the Ericsson Open in Miami the previous week.