An eighty-year-old could face an eight-year-old at The Green Summer Series tournament.

They are in the LTA Ratings event in which competitors play a round-robin with players of similar age and ability, with the winners progressing to a knockout.

Eileen King, mother of referee Richard, and county standard youngster Suzy Larkin bid for the women's title of a nine-day tourney that begins tomorrow. The highest rated female entered is Eastbourne teenager Francesca Scollo.

Richard King said: "It could work out that my mum, who is on the lowest level, could meet Suzy, but she is only a social player.

"She let my dad play his football and cricket until he was 50 while she spent most of her time at home bringing me up. But then she turned round to him and said: 'it's my turn now'. She's played ever since and is up the club most days."

There is also a men's competition that will feature two promising 13-year-olds, Michael Wenham (Ditchling) and Craig Wells (Hailsham), while top youngster Alan Wright (Eastbourne) was expected to compete.

The singles are split into a knockout at the quarter-final stages.