South African wheelchair tennis champions, Donald Ramphadi and Kgothatso Montjane, emerged victorious at the French Open quad wheelchair doubles and women’s wheelchair doubles events, respectively. However, their path to success has been marred by a lack of funding and major sponsors. Both players have expressed their concerns about the minimal financial support received from South Africa’s sports ministry. Ramphadi, in particular, has faced additional challenges due to faults with his secondhand wheelchair, which has forced him to retire from matches in the past.
Diminishing Support
Ramphadi revealed that the withdrawal of funding from the major sponsor, Airports Company (ACSA), has had a significant impact on wheelchair tennis in South Africa. The number of tournaments has decreased from six to just one, leaving the players with limited opportunities to compete. Without proper individual sponsors, the players heavily relied on Tennis South Africa for support. However, when they were informed that they had to stand on their own, they realized the extent of the difficulties they would face. Securing individual sponsors in South Africa has proven to be a challenging task.
Hope for Change
Montjane, who is eagerly anticipating her first Wimbledon title after making her debut in 2018, expressed her desire to see a positive transformation in the situation. She emphasized the need for change in order to provide wheelchair tennis players with the resources they need to thrive. Despite the challenges, Montjane managed to secure a few sponsors through her agency for the French Open, but she still lacks the necessary support that a professional tennis player requires. She passionately hopes that significant changes will occur to prevent her heart from breaking.
Overcoming Challenges
Despite the funding challenges faced by Ramphadi, he remains determined to compete at the All England Club this year. With the support of his equipment sponsor, Wilson, he continues to pursue his dreams in the sport. Ramphadi’s journey in wheelchair tennis began when he became wheelchair-bound due to osteogenesis imperfecta, a condition commonly known as brittle bone disease. Although he initially perceived tennis as a sport for white people, he decided to give it a try out of boredom and quickly discovered his talent. Falling in love with the sport, Ramphadi embraced the challenges and pursued excellence.
Wheelchair tennis follows similar rules to able-bodied tennis, with the main difference being that the ball can bounce twice instead of once. Initially competing in the main wheelchair tennis men’s draw, Ramphadi transitioned to quad wheelchair tennis in 2018 after being classified as a quad player. This classification is given to players who face difficulties not only in their legs but also in their body and playing arm. Ramphadi was confident that his classification as a quad player would elevate him to become one of the world’s best in this division.
Both Ramphadi and Montjane share a common goal of inspiring the next generation of Black South Africans to embrace tennis. Ramphadi acknowledges that his own previous misconceptions about tennis being a white sport were misguided. As a grand slam champion, he aims to change the perception of young kids at home and encourage them to pursue the sport, breaking down barriers and stereotypes.
The success of South African wheelchair tennis players Donald Ramphadi and Kgothatso Montjane at the French Open has been overshadowed by the lack of funding and major sponsors in their country. Despite the challenges, they remain determined to excel in their sport and inspire others to do the same. The hope for change lingers as these athletes continue to battle against the odds, eager to make their mark on the international stage at Wimbledon.
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