Montjane is SA Spring Open champion for the second year in a row
JOBURG – The Limpopo-born wheelchair tennis ace, 35, dismantled the Dutch second seed in a 6-1, 6-4 victory to repeat her triumph of 2019.
Wheelchair tennis star and Wimbledon finalist Kgothatso Montjane became SA Spring Open champion for the second time in a row with a superb performance against Dutch former world number one Jiske Griffioen in the women’s final on September 25.
The Limpopo-born star, 35, dismantled the Dutch second seed in a 6–1, 6–4 victory to repeat her triumph of 2019 at Ellis Park Tennis Courts in Johannesburg, also famously known as the ‘Old Lady of Tennis’.
Montjane enjoyed a double victory as she bagged the doubles victory with Griffioen on September 24. The South African-Dutch pair defeated Mariska Venter and Mabel Mankgele 6–1, 6–0.
“I think I really played well. The second set was very solid and I was really composed,” said Montjane. “The second set started very well, could have been better but obviously tennis is a game of nerves and how you respond to that is the most important part of it and I think I did well.
“It feels great. It feels great to win a title, first one of the year and to do it at home. I think it’s just more special. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to come out here and compete on home soil. I’m happy to have retained my title and to have come here to take part in this great tournament,” Montjane said.
South African top seed Donald Ramphadi was not troubled one bit in the quads singles final against compatriot Danny Mohlamonyane. Looking as dominant as can be, Ramphadi clinched the quad’s singles title by overwhelming the second-seeded Mohlamonyane 6–1, 6–0 in just 70 minutes to claim the singles trophy.
“I’m happy, it has been a very long time coming. It feels nice finally winning a tournament at home, so I’m just happy,” said Ramphadi.
In the men’s wheelchair final, the country’s leading player Evans Maripa faced off against Spanish top seed Martin de la Puente in a matchup where the Spanish world number 11 began as the favourite. However, Maripa was the one who got off to a better start, winning the first set 6–3.
With the pressure on in set two, De la Puente didn’t crack. The Spanish recovered from dropping the first set to win the second in a tiebreak 7–6 (2) to force a deciding set.
In the third set, De la Puente dominated as Maripa faded away giving up consecutive breaks that cleared the path to De la Puente’s first title of 2021, winning the contest 3–6, 7–6 (2), 6–1 over a heartbroken Maripa.
In the combined ITF US$25 000 World Tennis Tour event, the men and women’s finalists were confirmed on September 25 after some scintillating semi-final clashes.
In the women’s event, Dutch fourth-seed Richel Hogenkamp battled past second seed Tessah Andrianjafitrimo 6–3, 7–6 (3), 6–4 to set up a final clash with unseeded Russian Alina Charaeva.
In the men’s tournament, Michail Pervolarakis of Greece defeated defending champion and second seed Benjamin Lock of Zimbabwe 6–4, 7–6 (4). Pervolarakis will face last week’s Jozi Open champion Alastair Gray of Britain for the men’s trophy.
