June 10, (THEWILL) – South Africa’s Tennis South Africa (TSA), has joined in celebrating the remarkable achievements of Donald Ramphadi and Kgothatso Montjane, who emerged as Grand Slam champions at the prestigious Roland Garros tournament in Paris.
Ramphadi claimed the quads title alongside his doubles partner Andy Lapthorne, while Montjane clinched victory in the women’s doubles category with Yui Kamiji from Japan. Ranked number four globally, Ramphadi displayed immense resilience, overcoming a set deficit to secure a thrilling 1-6, 6-2, 10-3 victory. This historic win marked Ramphadi’s 30th birthday and made him the first male South African to win a French Open title since Johan Kriek in 1981.
Meanwhile, Montjane’s triumph avenged her previous defeat in the 2022 Roland Garros doubles final and established her as the first South African woman to win a French Open title since 1981 when Tanya Harford and Ros Fairbank did the same.
Ramphadi and Montjane expressed their elation and gratitude for their victories as Ramphadi acknowledged the nerve-wracking start and credited his experienced partner for helping them regain their composure. He also emphasized the significance of his win as the first South African, both able-bodied and wheelchair, to win a French Open title in 42 years.
Similarly, Montjane celebrated her first Grand Slam victory and highlighted the support she received from her team, especially during her recovery from a career-threatening injury. Both players now look forward to the French Riviera Open, an upcoming ITF Super Series event in Boit, France
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
