Maidstone’s Steven Blythe will emulate tennis great Roger Federer next month when he plays at Wimbledon.

Fourteen-year-old Blythe, who attends Maplesden Noakes School and trains at the Maidstone Tennis Academy, will represent Kent in the national finals of the HSBC Road to Wimbledon National 14 and Under Challenge after beating Callum Holloway of Bromley in a thrilling 4-5 (6), 5-4 (5), 1-0
(5) county final.

A total of 128 junior players from 44 counties will be vying for the boys’ and girls’ singles titles, a £500 coaching grant and a day out at next year’s Wimbledon Championships when the finals take place between August 17-22.

Joining Steven at the All England Club will be 13-year-old Anoushka Newman of Tunbridge Wells, who won the girls’ county final.

The event is the largest national junior grass court tournament of its kind, with more than 20,000 boys and girls entering this year making Steven and Anoushka’s achievements all the more impressive.

Former British No.1 and Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman, ambassador for the tournament, said: "Competitions like the HSBC Road to Wimbledon are a fantastic way to help nurture British tennis and it is great that HSBC continues to help cultivate all this young talent."