STEEP Tennis Club has begun its annual Aegon Team Tennis campaign, but this time with three teams instead of the usual one.

The event has been such a pull at the club that this year there were 17 men and 17 juniors (under 16 years old) that wanted to play.

This led to Steep entering more teams than ever before into the league event.

The men’s first and second teams started on Sunday, and the juniors will start on Sunday, April 23.

The men’s first team, captained by Steep Tennis Club head coach Dave Gaterell, were at home against Milford on Sunday.

The team posted a closely-fought 4-2 victory, with singles wins for Jon Graham, Barry Carter and Philippe Mougin, and a doubles win for Carter and Mougin which saved the team from having to play the tie-break shootout to decide the match.

The men’s second team, captained by Matt Thompson and comprising Freddie Green, Matt Clark and Justin Blott, started in impressive fashion by beating Alverstoke on their home soil 5-1.

All of the Steep players won their singles matches, with Thompson and Green also winning the doubles.

The next outing is on Sunday, April 23, when the first team face Lee-on-the Solent at home at 2pm, the second team face Littleton away at 10am, and the under-16s face Basset away at 10am.

Aegon Team Tennis is a national event, where clubs enter teams of two to four players to play singles and doubles.

The event attracts players from club to international level.