Seshego Tennis sensation KG Montjane wins the US Open

Limpopo-born wheelchair tennis sensation Kgothatso Montjane and Japanese teammate Yui Kamiji claimed the women’s wheelchair doubles US Open title in New York on Saturday night.

It is her second grand slam this year after winning the French Open doubles title in June.

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Their victory came after their opponents were forced to withdraw due to illness. They were scheduled to face the top-seeded Dutch pairing of Diede de Groot and Jiske Griffioen in the championship match. But Griffioen had to withdraw due to illness, resulting in a walkover victory for Montjane and Kamiji.

KGOTHATSO MONTJANE WINS US OPEN TITLE

Montjane is only the second South African to clinch a US Open wheelchair title after Lucas Sithole achieved the feat in 2013.

“We are really excited about the title even though it’s not how we wanted to win it,” she said.

“We were so ready to battle it out there and we wanted our revenge from Wimbledon [they lost to De Groot and Griffioen earlier this year]. Other than that, a win is a win, and we did so well to get ourselves to the final.

“We are just so grateful to have won our second title together and for making our third Grand Slam together in one year. It’s really exciting to be winning this title with Yui,” added Montjane.

ANOTHER LIMPOPO TENNIS STAR SHINES ON THE WORLD STAGE

Meanwhile, In the quad wheelchair doubles event in New York, Donald Ramphadi and his partner Andy Lapthorne also did well to secure the runner-up position. The Limpopo-born and his British partner faced a tough challenge in the final against Dutch top seeds Sam Schroder and Niels Vink. Ultimately losing in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.

Ramphadi and Lapthorne had previously claimed victory at the French Open earlier this year. They were eager to avenge their Wimbledon loss to the Dutch pair, but it was not to be.