World number seven Kg Montjane delivered a commanding performance to win her second successive Women’s Singles title at the Airports Company South Africa Gauteng Open, a Grade I NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour event at the Gauteng East Tennis Centre in Benoni on Sunday, 7 April, 2013.
Montjane beat Jiske Griffioen in 6-4 6-1 straight sets to record her first win over the Dutch player, after wrapping up the first set in 28 minutes after finding the crucial break in the 10th game.
The popular South African number one-ranked wheelchair tennis star rushed to victory in less than an hour, after two breaks of serve in the second and sixth games of the second set. “I have to admit that I was very nervous about this match against Jiske,” Montjane said.
“I had never beaten her, and she is a very experienced player. My coach Holger Losch told me to just play my own game and to get a little more aggressive.
“As soon as I realised that she was struggling with her serve and rhythm, I started putting pressure on her with my returns. She also struggled with her forehand, so I hit a lot of shots to her forehand to raise the pressure.
“After I won the first set, I felt hopeful that I could win the match. I just kept piling on the pressure and I went all out to win.”
An injury in August derailed Montjane’s Paralympic dreams and the Limpopo player only launched her come back in January, where she reached the quarter-finals of the Australia Open after becoming the first African to compete in a wheelchair tennis grand slam.
In March, she underlined her growing stature when she reached the finals of the Women’s Singles and Doubles at the Pensacola Open in the United States.
“It’s been a long road back, but it is really fantastic to play at this level again after all the injuries, and to win again,” Montjane said.
“This victory has given me a lot of confidence going into the ACSA SA Open next week. It’s a Super Series event on the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour and it carries a lot of world ranking points. I would really like to do well next week.”
Germany’s Lucy Shuker and Jordann Whiley won the Women’s Doubles Final against Montjane and Katharina Kruger of Germany in straight sets 6-1 6-4.
(With editing by gsport)
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