JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s top wheelchair tennis women’s player, Kgothatso Montjane, has qualified for her fourth US Open, making it her 12th appearance in a Grand Slam tournament.
The world number 6 will join the top seven-ranked women for the 2018 US Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament in New York this September.
The prestigious final Grand Slam on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour will be staged from September 6-9 at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre at Flushing Meadow in New York.
The top seven-ranked players as of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Rankings of July 16, plus one wildcard, make up the eight players for the men’s and women’s events.
The top three-ranked players as of the same date, plus one wildcard, make up the four players for the quad event.
The Limpopo-born star qualified to join the elite group following her Wimbledon success, which saw her breaking back into the top six of the world rankings.
The 32-year-old has had a good season, defending her Swiss Open title and making her debut at Wimbledon early July, finishing in the semifinals.
Kgothatso Montjane in action against Faizatul Thani of Malaysia in the Ladies competition. Photo: Etienne Rothbart
Montjane hopes to improve on her 2013, 2014 and 2017 quarterfinal finish at Flushing Meadow.
"Four Grand Slams in a year, this is great! I am very excited, and I look forward to the US Open and hopefully get through to the semifinal round this year.
"I have been playing very well and I am confident I will do well in the tournament if I just keep believing in myself and just play my game," commented Montjane.
Prior to the Grand Slam, Montjane will take part in a warm-up tournament, the US Open Super Series tournament which will be held at St Louis, USA from August 28 to September 2 where she will hopefully be joined by another SA wheelchair tennis ace – Lucas Sithole.
Wheelchair Tennis South Africa (WTSA) said they are working very hard to raise money for both Montjane and Sithole to travel to the United States despite their financial constraints.