Latest news with #KgothatsoMontjane
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
KG Montjane paves way for kids to chase their Grand Slam dreams
Kgothatso Montjane, right, and playing partner Yui Kamiji of Japan hold up their 2025 French Open winners' plates at Roland Garros. Image: Daniel Kopatsch/ ITF Wheelchair tennis Grand Slam champion Kgothatso 'KG' Montjane can't help but wonder where she would have been and what she would have achieved in the sport had she started earlier. It was her steely determination to ensure that the same fate doesn't befall talented youngsters from similar backgrounds that drove the construction of a multipurpose tennis court at Lethaba Special School in Tzaneen, Limpopo, through her foundation. 'It has been an idea that has been lying in the pipeline, not being sure how I would be able to execute it. But having such a great team behind me speaking to some of the sponsors from tennis, we managed to make it a dream come true,' KG told Independent Media Sport exclusively on the sidelines of the project. 'This project just resonates with my story, my career, so it's been a long time for me, waiting for this to come true.' South Africa's top-ranked wheelchair tennis player can often be seen zipping around the court, executing lobs, cross-court forehand winners and drives down the line at the US Open, French Open, Aussie Open, and Wimbledon, yet her story has humble beginnings. 'When I started playing tennis, I started at a school where there was no tennis court. We went out to try to play tennis somewhere and then we came back. We didn't have a tennis court at school so we had to improvise,' KG said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'So for me, being able to do this is just a matter of saying I don't want the next generation – those who come from a similar background as me – to go through similar challenges that I went through.' She chose Lethaba Special School because it didn't have a tennis court, unlike Tshilidzini Special School and Helena Franz Special School, her alma mater. 'I just wanted to make sure that the next generation doesn't suffer, mostly those who come from the rural areas. Because I've lived that, I've experienced that and when you are talented and you realise that you were so late into that particular sport, you just feel like you were kind of left behind. I'm just trying to fill that gap.' The 'national treasure' from Seshego, in Polokwane, does admit that her late start has probably given her the longevity to continue to compete at the highest level at the age of 39. Her remarkable career has led her to four wheelchair tennis Grand Slam doubles titles – at the US Open, French Open (twice) and Wimbledon – alongside Japan's Yui Kamiji. Yet she has also lost none of her hunger for success. 'I feel like I'm starting to understand the game better and I'm improving. Even though I picked up the racket at the age of 19, here I am still able to win a Grand Slam or two, or reach a semi-final in Grand Slams,' she said. The children at Lethaba Special School in Tzaneen were thrilled to try out the new multipurpose tennis court made possible by tennis star Kgothatso Monjane's foundation. Image: Supplied
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Wimbledon champ donates sports court to Letaba School
LIMPOPO – Wimbledon wheelchair tennis champion Kgothatso Montjane officially handed over a brand-new multi-purpose sports court to Letaba Special School, located outside Tzaneen, on Friday, August 1. Montjane was joined at the official opening by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie and Limpopo MEC for Sport Jerry Maseko. The school caters to learners with physical disabilities, many of whom use wheelchairs or crutches for mobility. Montjane told the Herald that the idea for the court was born earlier this year after a conversation with the school's principal, Dr Tinyiko Shingange. 'I asked her if the learners had access to a tennis court to help them stay active, and when she told me they didn't, I knew I had to do something,' said Montjane. Through her non-profit organisation, the Montjane Sports Development Foundation, she made it her mission to provide the facility. 'For me, it's about leaving a legacy,' Montjane said. 'This court isn't just for competitive sport; it's about giving these learners a chance to move, to play, and to live an active lifestyle, which is important for everyone. I'm grateful for the government's collaboration and honoured that the minister and MEC could be part of this project.' Shingange thanked Montjane for her support. 'It is humbling to see a world-class athlete return to give back to the underprivileged. This court offers an opportunity for learners who may not excel academically to shine in sport. Who knows, maybe the next Montjane will come from this school.' The day's celebrations began with a fun walk, which both the minister and the MEC joined before the formal proceedings kicked off.
Eyewitness News
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Eyewitness News
Wimbledon: Kgothatso Montjane makes winning start to her singles campaign
JOHANNESBURG – Wheelchair tennis ace Kgothatso Montjane makes a winning start to her singles campaign at Wimbledon. The reigning Wimbledon doubles champion defeated British player Cornelia Oosthuizen 7-6(2), 6-2 in the first round on Tuesday. The Limpopo-born star's next opponent is 18-year-old French world No. 11 Ksenia Chasteau, who caused a major upset by dismantling second seed Aniek van Koot. READ MORE: Kgothatso Montjane and Donald Ramphadi make it to Roland Garros doubles finals Wheelchair tennis ace Kgothatso Montjane makes it to the Roland Garros semi-finals Roland Garros: Kgothatso Montjane grabs doubles Grand Slam Last month, Montjane, alongside her Japanese partner Yui Kamiji, won the French Open title on the clay of Roland Garros. 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 final 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.
Eyewitness News
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Eyewitness News
South Africa's stars shine at Wimbledon: Ramphadi eyes quad doubles glory, Montjane makes semis
READ: Wimbledon: Kgothatso Montjane makes winning start to her singles campaign And in the women's singles Kgothatso Montjane continued her winning streak at Wimbledon, recovering from a set down to defeat France's Ksenia Chasteau 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and secure her spot in the singles semi-finals. Montjane will now face Chinese fourth seed Ziying Wang for a place in the final. In the doubles, Montjane and her Japanese partner Yui Kamiji suffered a first-round defeat, falling 6-4, 7-6(4) to Chinese second seeds Xiaohui Li and Ziying Wang. Last month, Montjane, alongside her Japanese partner Yui Kamiji, won the French Open title on the clay of Roland Garros. 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 final as well.
IOL News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Alwande Skhosana clinches double victory at TSA International Wheelchair Series
Alwande Skhosana won both legs of the ITF Futures Series tournaments at Gauteng East Tennis Courts in Benoni.. 'In order for a player to qualify for a Grand Slam, they need to be in the top 15 in the world, and my highest ranking was No 20,' Skhosana said. The 25-year-old tennis star was first introduced to wheelchair tennis when he was 9, at Harding Special School in KZN. He has been consigned to crutches after a botched operation to correct bowleggedness, but only uses the wheelchair when he is playing. He was thrilled with the victories, but revealed the struggles in trying reach the Grand Slam stage where the likes of four-time major winner Kgothatso Montjane and quad tennis player Donald Ramphadi continue to fly the SA flag high. Top seed Skhosana, from Umlazi in the south of Durban, saw off the challenge of No 2 seed Anthony Dittmar of Germany in both finals at the Gauteng East Tennis Courts in Benoni. The rankings points and prize money are vital to his hopes of adding to South Africa's growing Grand Slam legacy in the sport. South Africa's leading female wheelchair player Kgothatso Montjane is hoping to add the Wimbledon title to her Grand Slam haul. 'Because we don't really have a lot of tournaments on South Africa, it becomes more expensive for us to play tournaments in Europe where we actually can get enough points to improve our ranking.' Despite being the top wheelchair tennis men's player in Africa, the lack of financial support makes qualifying for the Slams an uphill battle for the South African ace. 'I'm actually good enough because I've had wins over top-10 players that are actually Grand Slam players. So it's just a matter of getting good support to give me more opportunities so that I can make enough points to get into the Slams,' he said. Victory in the TSA International Wheelchair Series will surely help his cause. The series, which included mens, women's, quads, and junior categories, offered a $3 000 (about R53 000) prize purse for each tournament. Skhosana was extremely proud of his achievement. 'It was my first titles this year,' he said. 'The most important thing is to collect as many points as possible to improve my rankings because my biggest goal is to play in the Grand Slams.' The event marked the return of ITF Futures Series tournaments to South Africa for the first time since 2019. 'Having these tournaments at home gave me an advantage because I didn't need to spend a lot of money, whereas if I have to go to Europe I have to spend so much money to play in those tournaments to accumulate the same points,' Skhosana said. 'It was really important as the top-seeded player to get all the points and improve my ranking.' Beaten finalist Dittmar won a Futures Series event in Amiens in March, but found the South African ace a formidable opponent on home soil. Skhosana's goal for the rest of the year is to take part in a further nine tournaments. It is surely only a matter of time before his name is mentioned among South Africa's Grand Slam legends.
