Bongani Dhlamini scoops silver at the Korean Open
JOBURG - Westdene resident Bongani Dhlamini wins silver at the Korean Open on 10 June.
One of South Africa’s rising wheelchair tennis stars Bongani Dhlamini was in top form when he received a silver medal in the Korean Open on 10 June.
Wheelchair tennis manager Karen Losch said the fighting spirit and dedication shown by this Westdene resident earned him the necessary skills that made it possible for him to compete against top wheelchair tennis players in the world.
Dlamini, who is ranked Number 27 in the world, entered the tournament with a keen interest when he faced Mika Ishikarwa from Canada first, and ended up posting 6 –3, 7–5 score line. He then went to the semi-final to play against the world’s Number 10 Antonio Raffaele from Italy. The first set was a battle that Dlamini lost 6–7. However, after three gruelling sets Dlamini took the match 6 –7, 6 –1, 6 – 4 to advance to the final. According to Losch, the win meant a lot because it was a maiden victory over a Top 10 player and the first time Dlamini has reached the finals of a Grade 1 event.
The tournament was not done for him as he still needed to face Nicholas Taylor (USA) in the finals. Taylor is also one of the Top 10 players in the world. He’s best known for his skills and experience in tennis but Dhlamini wasn’t alarmed. He lost the match 6 –1, 7– 6 but managed to record significant results.
Losch could not contain her excitement when she said, “We were not expecting it, and we are very proud that Bongani is representing the country. Competing against the best players in the world is fantastic and it is so important for the player’s growth and we are expecting to see more from him,” she added.
Dhlamini is also joined by two other South African players who are aiming to make a mark in the tournament. The three South African players headed to the Busan Open on 16 June.
