The curtain closed on the first ever South African Spring Open tournament on Sunday and South African wheelchair tennis ace Lucas Sithole clinched the Quads singles final, defeating compatriot Donald Ramphadi 6-4 6-3.
This was the inaugural edition of the competition that spanned over eight days at the Ellis Park Tennis Courts where leading domestic players took to the courts in gruelling battles with their continental and international counterparts. Sithole shares his joy.
A first of its kind on home soil, Sithole says the SA Spring Open is just what the country has been in need of to inspire and finely develop young talent that often falls short of taking part in international competitions.
A 2013 US Open Quad Winner and 2016 Australian Open Doubles Grand Slam champion, Sithole now sets his sights on the Wheelchair Tennis Masters set to take place in Florida, USA in November.
He alludes that the S A Open victory has certainly done his confidence well ahead of such a venerated global tournament. – Report by Tumi Gabonamong
