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SA a force in wheelchair tennis
German wheelchair tennis star and world number one Sabine Ellerbrock believes the future of the global sport could well lie in South Africa and the talent coming from these shores.
Marjolein Buis (NED) in action against Sabine Ellerbrock from Germany in the women’s final during the day 5 of the ACSA SA wheelchair tennis open from Ellis Park Tennis Stadium on April 25, 2012 in Johannesburg, South Africa Photo by Reg Caldecott / Gallo Images
“When I compare the growth of wheelchair tennis in South Africa with Germany, which is a big country, it’s incredible. Compared with South Africa, Germany is actually a developing country in terms of wheelchair tennis,” she said.
“Here there are so many players and they have such great support. Wheelchair tennis is even broadcast on television in South Africa. It’s fantastic. I’m sure South Africa will have a lot of good players in the future.”
Ellerbrock is in South Africa as part of a strong local and international field competing in this week’s Gauteng Open in Benoni and next week’s SA Open at Ellis Park.
South Africa already has two major international stars in quads competitor Lucas Sithole and women’s champion Kgothatso Montjane.
Sithole made history late last year when he became the first African to win a Quads Grand Slam, beating world number one David Wagner for the US Open title.
He is ranked second in the world behind Wagner, while Montjane is ranked seventh in the world.
“If you look at Lucas and Kgothatso, they are among the best in the world, and I think you’ll see more stars coming from here in the future,” Ellerbrock said.
– Sapa
