Lucas Sithole defeated at the US Open 2014

The last grand slam of the year, part of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, delivered nail-biting top-class tennis.

South African Ace and defending US Open Champion 2013 Lucas Sithole was defeated out of a place in the final with a three-way tie between the World Top 3 – it all came down to the count, sets won vs sets lost, with Sithole narrowly missing the opportunity to successfully defend his title.

Triple amputee Lucas Sithole started his US Open 2014 defence in style, winning his first round robin match against World Ranked Number 1 David Wagner (USA) 7–5, 2–6, 6–3 on 4 September. Sithole then faced the very determined British Number 1 Andy Lapthorne in his second round robin match, but Lapthorne proved to be too steady, defeating Sithole 2–6, 3–6.

On 6 September Sithole faced Nick Taylor (USA), currently ranked Number 6 in the world, in his last round robin match. It was a must win for Sithole to possibly go through to the final.

Sithole won his third and last round robin match 7–5, 6–3.

At the end of the round robin stage, it was a three-way tie between the World Top 3 each losing one out of their three matches with Andy Lapthorne (GBR) losing his last round robin match to World Number1 David Wagner (USA).

It all came down to the count and the final was contested between Wagner (USA) and Lapthorne (GBR) with Lapthorne winning his first career grand slam quads singles title in Flushing Meadows, New York, defeating David Wagner (USA) 7–5, 6–2.

South Africa’ s top women’s player Kgothatso Montjane ranked Number 8 internationally, was defeated in the US Open 2014 women’s singles quarter finals by world Number 2 Aniek van Koot (NED) 2–6, 0–6.