Wednesday, 08 June 2016, Johannesburg, South Africa. – After a two-months break since the completion of the Airports Company South Africa SA Open at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Montjane jets off on Sunday to begin her two-week tour in France.
The 30-year-old from Limpopo, will begin her excursion at the Toyota Open International de L’ile de Re, an International Tennis Federation (ITF) level 1 tournament, part of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour starting from 14-19 June at Ile de Re. Montjane last year teamed up with French lady Emmanuelle Morch to win the Toyota Open women’s doubles title defeating Dutch pair Marjolein Buis and Diede de Groot in the final.
The world number nine women’s tennis ace showed great composure but finished as a semi-finalist in the women’s singles after going down to second seed Sabine Ellerbrock and intends to avenge this year.
“I have worked very hard and I can confidently say that I am physically and mentally strong, I am focused and motivated,” Montjane said. “Spending time at home with family helps to align one’s focus. For me, it’s always the best recharge. So I look forward to the challenge in France.”
Succeeding the ITF 1 event, Montjane who is fondly known as ‘KG’ will move on and joined by quads world number three Lucas Sithole at the French Open Super Series tournament, which takes place in Paris from June 21-26.
Like KG, Sithole, a triple amputee from Newcastle in Kwazulu-Natal has spent the last two months preparing for the much anticipated Super Series tournament which is one of only six top wheelchair tennis events on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis tour.
The 29-year-old will be hunting another victory in Paris after he captured his first French Open title with Australian Dylan Alcott in the doubles competition in 2015. In the singles event, former world number one David Wagner from America crashed the South African world number three’s hopes of bringing another trophy home when he toppled Sithole 6-1 6-4 in the semi-final round.
Sithole said, “It’s always great playing in the French Open, although it’s always tough with all the top ten ranked players participating but it’s the challenge that makes it more exciting. I have had enough time to rest and put more work on court, so I feel very strong and confident going to France.”
