By Palesa Manaleng
Africa’s top wheelchair tennis player Montjane and her Japanese doubles partner Yui Kamijin defeated Diede de Groot and Maria Florencia Moreno 6-3, 6-2 in the doubles finals at Roland Garros.
JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s wheelchair tennis player Kgothatso “KG” Montjane is a Grand Slam champion.
Africa’s top wheelchair tennis player Montjane and her Japanese doubles partner Yui Kamijin defeated Diede de Groot and Maria Florencia Moreno 6-3, 6-2 in the doubles finals at Roland Garros.
Not one, but two @RolandGarros titles for 🇿🇦!! @KGmontjane1 has claimed her well-deserved Grand Slam champion title! Alongside her partner Yui Kamiji, they triumphed over De Groot and Maria Moreno with an impressive 6-3, 6-2 victory.
C’mon!! What a feat!🏆🏆#RolandGarrospic.twitter.com/SV74nFCHDJ
‘ Tennis South Africa (@TennisSA) June 10, 2023
On Saturday, fellow South African Donald Ramphadi and his doubles partner Andy Lapthorne defeated Heath Davidson and Robert Shaw to claim the Quad Wheelchair Doubles title 1-6, 6-2, 10-3.
Montjane and Ramphadi raised South Africa’s flag high at Roland Garros.
In May, Montjane bagged both the singles and doubles titles at the ITF 2 Series held in Spain.
Earlier in the year, along with her doubles partner Yui Kamiji, they secured the doubles title at the Japan Open tournament, taking down Jiske Griffioen and Momoko Ohtani.
Congratulations to Kgothatso Montjane and Yui Kamiji, the #RolandGarros Women’s Wheelchair Doubles champions! https://t.co/FRfvhJ8Acw
‘ Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) June 10, 2023
Montjane was the first African wheelchair tennis player to compete at Wimbledon when she was handed a wild card for the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament in London in 2018.
In 2012 she made Wimbledon history by being the first black South African woman to reach the final at Wimbledon while reaching the doubles last as well.
Montjane competed at her first Paralympics in Beijing (2008), then in London and Rio de Janeiro. In 2018, she became the first African wheelchair tennis player to compete in the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open in the same calendar year.
Montjane was born with a congenital birth defect and underwent a single amputation below the knee when she was 12 years old.
🗣️ “It’s a good opportunity for us to keep showcasing our talent”
Yui Kamiji and Kgothatso Montjane overcame Deroulede & Morch on Court Philippe Chatrier to book their place in the @rolandgarros women’s wheelchair doubles final ⬇️#WheelchairTennis | #RolandGarros
‘ ITF (@ITFTennis) June 9, 2023
