Kgothatso Montjane claims fourth Grand Slam title at French Open

South Africa’s very own wheelchair tennis star, Kgothatso Montjane, has added yet another chapter to her illustrious career by clinching her fourth Grand Slam title at the French Open. The 39-year-old athlete showcased her extraordinary skills on the clay of Roland Garros, triumphing in the women’s wheelchair doubles alongside Japanese partner Yui Kamiji.

The pair achieved a stunning comeback victory against the No.2 seeds, Xiaohui Li and Ziying Wang from China, with a final score of 4-6, 7-5 [10-7], marking Montjane’s second French Open title in three years.

The victory is a testament to Montjane’s resilience and enduring talent, deserving of celebration not just in South Africa but on the global stage. Speaking after the match, she attributed their success to their unbreakable team spirit and relentless determination, noting, “We faced a tough challenge but believed in ourselves until the very end.”

Earlier on the same day, Donald Ramphadi, another prominent member of Team South Africa, competed in the quad wheelchair doubles alongside his partner Ahmet Kaplan from Turkey but fell short of claiming the title. Ramphadi and Kaplan reached the final after a noteworthy performance in the semi-finals, where they triumphed over the No.2 seeds Andy Lapthorne and Sam Schroder. However, they were unable to replicate that success in the final, succumbing to the top seeds Guy Sasson from Israel and Niels Vink from the Netherlands in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

Despite coming short in the final, Ramphadi’s progress this week has not gone unnoticed. The 31-year-old athlete is fresh off a bronze medal victory at the 2024 Paris Paralympics and is considered a rising star within the sport. His performance in Paris further solidifies his status as a serious contender in upcoming competitions.

While Montjane continued her pursuit of glory, she faced an earlier setback in the singles event, where she was edged out in the semi-finals by the No.2 seed, Aniek Van Koot, with a score line of 6-4, 6-2. Despite this defeat, Montjane’s prowess in doubles remains a shining highlight of her career thus far.