Esporta win at Wimbledon

4:32pm Tuesday 4th December 2007

Esporta Tennis Club captain Simon Targett is eyeing a sixth Prince Inter-Club Challenge victory after leading his team to a fifth championship at Wimbledon on Sunday.

Targett helped the Croydon-based tennis team, also consisting of Matt Henley, Michaela Cunningham and Martina Springthorpe, to a comprehensive 2-0 win over Edinburgh's David Lloyd Tennis Club.

The success caps a series of impressive performances from Esporta, who lost just one rubber in seven matches on their run to the final.

And captain Targett, who lives in Kenley, has set his sights on securing a second consecutive tournament victory after his side's record breaking win at SW19.

"It was a great occasion and it's even sweeter coming home with the trophy," he said.

"It is the fifth time we have won it, which is a great achievement and to win it at the All England Club makes it extra special.

"Breaking the record by winning it five times outweighs winning it at Wimbledon - but being awarded the trophy by Alan Mills makes that a very close second.

"No one has ever won it five times before so it is amazing for us to do that - and being the captain tops it all for me.

"We want to win it for the sixth time next year and if we can keep the same team together then I am sure we will have a chance."

And after securing the 2-0 victory over the Scottish outfit, Targett, 33, admits he didn't expect their final to be so one-sided.

"I wasn't expecting it to be quite so easy," he said.

"It certainly wasn't supposed to be that straight forward because we have had some ding-dong battles with them in the past. "It was a very long competiton but it was definitely worth it.

"We have done our fair share of travelling and worked hard to achieve this."

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