Double victory for Sikhosana and Aksak at Amex ITF Wheelchair tennis event
The tournament started with week one from June 27 to 30 and concluded with week two from July 1 to 4.
Top seeds Alwande Sikhosana and Zeliha Aksak claimed their second Amex ITF Wheelchair Futures Series titles at the Gauteng East Tennis Association (GETA) complex in Lakefield on July 4.
Competing in South Africa for the first time in six years, Sikhosana rallied past Germany’s Anthony Dittmar with a hard-fought 6-1, 7-5 victory, while Aksak, from Turkey, powered past South Africa’s Nokwanda Hlongwana 6-2, 6-2 to win the women’s title.
Men’s final
After crushing Dittmar 6-2, 6-0 to clinch his first title of this tour on 30 June, Sikhosana went into the match high in confidence.
Though the German battled against the wind, he made the African number one sweat for his victory. The South African commanded the opening set from the baseline, winning the bulk of the serve points to take it 6-1.
The 24-year-old Sikhosana once again showed his pedigree, racing to a 4-2 lead in the second set. But Dittmar fought back without making mistakes against a rampant opponent backed by strong home support.
Dittmar’s fightback sent the set into a tiebreak, but Sikhosana regained his rhythm to ultimately triumph 7-5 and clinch the title in straight sets.
“It was a good match; tougher than last week. Anthony played very well in the second set. I was in control but he kept chasing me up and down. I’m happy to have kept the fighting spirit and actually taken the victory,” Sikhosana said.
Sikhosana added that the victories were crucial in his chase for grand slam qualification.
“It’s an amazing feeling. But the most important thing is getting the points to improve my ranking.”
Dittmar, meanwhile, was content with his performance.
“The first set was pretty bad. I had good chances but I didn’t hit the ball well and the wind wasn’t easy for me. Alwande played well in the first set. In the second set, I just went for it and it worked a lot better. I’m happy,” he said.
Women’s final
Having clinched the Amex ITF Futures one title on 30 June with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 victory over Ntsuku Ndlovu, Aksak was the overwhelming favourite going into this fixture.
She lived up to expectations as she gave Hlongwana no chance to win the match 6-2, 6-2 for her second consecutive title.
“I feel better with my game, although I played with lots of pain in my back, which started at the beginning of this tournament. But I won all my matches and I’m happy with that,” Aksak said.
Juniors
Pheeha Machaka beat Orenetse Polile 6-3, 6-2 to win the boys’ final, while Bridget Lesedi Malepe caused the upset of the tournament when she defeated top seed Inam Madiloyi of Germiston’s Ithembelihle LSEN School, 6-2, 6-0.
