Rolling Down Under
AUCKLAND PARK - South Africa's top Wheelchair Tennis players have returned from an action-packed January tour Down Under, competing in four Australian tournaments and returning with a host of trophies.
South Africa's top-ranked female player, Kgothatso Montjane, is ranked ninth internationally, and did her title proud in Australia.
Kgothatso Montjane and Evans Maripa were the first to clinch titles, scooping women’s and men’s singles titles respectively at the Queensland Open. Maripa, who entered the tournament with a world ranking of 14, tasted his first victory over Japanese Takashi Sanada (world ranked eighth), before beating another top-10 player to reach a new career high ranking of 13.
Montjane paired up with British player Lucy Shuker to win the women’s doubles, clinching their decisive round-robin contest against French player Charlotte Famin and Katharina Kruger of Germany.
South African ace player and defending champion Lucas Sithole played his first match of this year at the Sydney International Wheelchair Tennis Super Series, finishing runner-up in the quads singles after losing to world number two, Australian Dylan Alcott, in the finals. Sithole and Alcott then paired up to win the quads doubles title. Montjane reached both the women’s singles and doubles quarter-finals, while Maripa made it to the men’s doubles quarter-finals.
At the Melbourne Open, Montjane and doubles partner Shuker tasted victory again, taking the women’s doubles title after defeating a strong Netherlands-Germany partnership. Montjane reached the women’s singles semi-final, losing to world number two Aniek van Koot of the Netherlands. Maripa lost the quarter-final to another Dutch player, world number seven Maikel Scheffers, while Sithole finished third in the quads singles.
The first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, was bittersweet for Sithole, who finished the round robin tied with two fellow players, all three having scored two losses and one win. Alcott beat world number one David Wagner of the USA to win his first Grand Slam.
Karen Losch, general manager of Wheelchair Tennis South Africa said, “We are extremely proud of the players. They have taken a lot home to work, practise and tweek on. The hard work and hours of training are definitely showing rewards, but in order to make real inroads in 2015 they will need to be focused, dedicated and continue to work hard.”
Details: Siyabulela Nkachela 0826793772; siya@tennis.co.za; www.tennis.co.za
