In a fun-filled event, South Africa’s leading wheelchair tennis star Lucas Sithole and his team took a high five at the Wheelchair Tennis Ability Challenge.
Former US Open champion Sithole was full of praise for the organisers and sponsors of the Challenge, after carrying his Power5 team to victory at O.R. Tambo International on Wednesday March 11.
His team, who included Themba Tshabalala, Pietie Norval and Eunice Khoza, lifted the trophy at the fourth edition of the annual event, which is a build-up to the Airports Company South Africa SA Open at Ellis Park next month.
“This was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it,” Sithole said.
“It gave people another opportunity to try wheelchair tennis, and it helped give the players a bit more confidence ahead of the Airports Company South Africa SA Open.
“Holding this sort of event gives the sport a lot of exposure and we can see it growing every year, which is great for wheelchair tennis.”
The tournament, played in a Pro Set format, involved four teams, each including a wheelchair tennis player, an able-bodied player, a celebrity and an Airports Company South Africa employee.
The Sport@10 squad (Thomas Mambo, Paul Anderson, Kgothatso Montjane, Aletta Ngozo) secured a 4-1 win over 702 Talkers (Udo Carelse, Leon Els, Natalie Grandin, Nomzamo Yawathi) in the first round, while the Power5 team bagged a 6-4 victory over Morning Live (Vaylen Kirtley, Jared Robinson, Evans Maripa, Sonto Masina).
Power5 went on to beat Sport@10 6-4 in a thrilling final.
