Kgothatso ‘KG’ Montjane is hungry and driven to face Marjolein Buis from the Netherlands in the women’s singles quarter-finals of the Airports Company South Africa SA Open at Ellis Park Tennis Stadium on Thursday.
As soon as the world number nine trounced Viktoria Lvova from Russia in straight sets 6-1 6-3 in the second round, Montjane declared herself ready to take on Buis, who defeated her for the Airports Company South Africa Gauteng Open title on Sunday.
“It’s not an easy thing to admit, but I was not in that final match on Sunday,” Montjane said.
“I played some of the best tennis leading up to that final, but then my true form didn’t show up. I fought back in both sets, but when you look at the statistics, you could see I lost the match on unforced errors.
“I think I was too negative, unfocussed and impatient. You can’t challenge someone like Marjolein like that. She moves very well and she has great mobility. She is very strong mentally and all those things make her a dangerous opponent.
“You have to be very sharp, patient and focussed when you play her and I was none of those things on Sunday. But I am in a very positive frame of mind after taking a day off on Monday to see the physiotherapist. I’m feeling very strong physically and mentally. I’m ready for the fight.”
It was smooth sailing for the rest of the seeds on day two of the Super Series event.
Dutch first seed Jiske Griffioen downed Miho Nijo from Japan 6-1 6-1, second seed Sabine Ellerbrock from Germany defeated Thando Hlatshwayo 6-0 6-1 and Buis, seeded third, whipped Nokwanda Hlongwane 6-0 6-0.
Germany’s Katherina Kruger (4), Francisca Mardones (6) from Chile, Charlotte Famin (7) from France and American Kaitlyn Verfuerth also advanced to the quarter-finals.
Selected Day Two Results of the Airports Company South Africa SA Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, being played at the Ellis Park Tennis Stadium in Johannesburg, on Wednesday, 15 April, 2015:
Womens Singles Round 2:
6-Francisca Mardones (Chi) bt Noma-Afrika Gxumisa (RSA) 6-1 6-0
5-Kgothatso Monjane (RSA) bt Viktoria Lvova (Rus) 6-1 6-3
4-Katherine Kruger (Ger) bt Lludmila Bubnova (Rus) 5-7 6-4 6-4
3-Marjolein Buis (Ned) bt Nokwanda Hlongwane (RSA) 6-0 6-0
1-Jiske Griffioen (Ned) bt Miho Nijo (Jpn) 6-1 6-1
8-Kaitlyn Verfuerth (USA) bt Mariska Venter (RSA) 6-3 6-3
2-Sabine Ellebrock (Ger) bt Thando Hlatswayo (RSA) bt 6-0 6-1
7-Charlotte Famin (Fra) bt Mabel Mnkgele (RSA) 6-0 6-0
Girls Singles Quarter Finals:
Asive Gilifili (RSA) bt 4-Judith Mdaka (RSA) 7-5 6-4
3-Wendy Hlongwane (RSA) bt Nosipho Hlatswayo (RSA) 6-2 6-2
2-Nokwanda Hlongwane (RSA) bt Simamkele Zondwayo (RSA) 6-0 6-0
Doubles:
1-Marjolein Buis (Ned)/Sabine Ellerbrock (Ger) w/o Lludmila Bubnova/Viktoria Lvova (Rus) (Lvova withdrew due to a stomach bug)
2-Francisca Mardones (Chi)/Kgothatso Montjane (RSA) bt Mabel Mankgele/Letabo Shai (RSA) 6-0 6-0
4-Charlotte Famin/Emmanuelle Morch (Fra) bt Nokwanda Hlongwane/Nonkanyiso Nyosi (RSA) 6-1 6-0
Photo 1 caption: Kgothatso Montjane, the fifth seed of South Africa in action against Viktoria Lvova of Russia, in the second round of the women’s singles during day 2 of the Airports Company South Africa SA Open, at Ellis Park Tennis Complex on Wednesday, 14 April, 2015. Montjane won her match 6-1 6-3 for the chance to take on Dutch player Marjolein Buis, to whom Montjane lost the final of the Gauteng Open on the weekend. Photo: Reg Caldecott
(With editing by gsport)
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