Weybridge tennis star Danny Sapsford may be retired from the professional circuit, but he is still playing the game he loves and raising money at the same time.

The 44-year-old former Davis Cup player took to the court last Sunday for a gruelling 24-hour charity fundraiser in aid of Bright Ideas for Tennis.
 

The National Tennis Centre in Roehampton was the venue when Sapsford and Stuart Rhodes, a benefactor of the nominated charity, began their mammoth event.
 

Players from clubs including Kingston YMCA Hawkers, as well as former Great Britain number one Tim Henman, took their turn against the pair, and they raised £30,000 for the charity that supports the grass-roots of the game.
 

Walton-born Sapsford, who once won an APT Tour doubles title in Nottingham alongside Sky Sports pundit Mark Petchey, said: “After about four or five hours, I was really feeling the pain.
 

“I had blisters on my fingers and toes, and my legs were heavy.
 

“But then the pain seemed to plateau out and it was great to have the support of the guys who came in to play.
 

“They played us in four-hour stints, so we won and lost our fair share of sets.
 

“The toughest part was probably the last four hours. I was doing some serious clock watching then.”
 

He added: “We have a few more fundraising events left, so we’re hoping to reach £50,000 by the end.”
 

New Malden’s Mel South also took part in the event where players from 11 Surrey clubs were helping out.