Montjane bows out in Wimbledon semis but Ramphadi still in with title shot

Kgothatso Montjane bowed out of Wimbledon on Friday with a 3-6 5-7 loss to No 4 seed Ziying Wang of China that ended the South African wheelchair tennis legend’s hopes of adding a sixth Grand Slam crown.

South Africa’s only remaining title hopeful is quad player Donald Ramphadi, who will feature in Saturday’s doubles final with British partner Gregory Slade.

Montjane had gone into the grass-court Grand Slam as the defending doubles champion with Yui Kamiji of Japan. The reigning French Open champions bowed out in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, however, losing to the Chinese duo of Wang and Li Xiaohui.

On Friday, Wang also ended the 39-year-old South African ace’s shot at a first Grand Slam singles title.

Montjane only managed to win 34% of points on her second serve, and that was probably the biggest letdown for the veteran. Wang also hit more winners as she booked a place in the final against doubles partner Li Xiaohui.

Montjane had booked her place in the Wimbledon semi-final with a gritty 3-6 6-3 6-3 quarter-final victory over France’s Ksenia Chasteu.

While Montjane’s journey at SW19 has ended, Ramphadi is on the brink of a breakthrough. The Olympic bronze medallist reached his first Wimbledon final when he and Slade defeated second seeds Ahmet Kaplan (Turkey) and Sam Schroder (Netherlands) 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 7-5.

They will face top seeds Guy Sasson of Israel and Niels Vink of the Netherlands in Saturday’s decider.

Ramphadi will have a chance to make up for losing last month’s French Open final alongside Kaplan.

The only South African interest in the main draw at Wimbledon ended in the second round, when Lloyd Harris lost to men’s 14th seed Andre Rublev of Russia.