Wheelchair tennis in Gauteng
Big tennis at international level in the form of the Airports Company South Africa SA Open returned to nearby Ellis Park and attracted the very best.
ALBERTON – South Africa’s Lucas “Twister” Sithole was the coolest customer on centre court at Ellis Park Tennis Stadium in Johannesburg as he closed out a three-set victory against world number one David Wagner at the Airports Company South Africa SA Open quad singles final.
Just a week after losing the Airports Company South Africa Gauteng Open final in Benoni to the American, Sithole came back from a set down to upset the defending champion 3-6 6-3 6-3.
The upsets continued as Frenchman Nicolas Peifer dethroned two-time winner and compatriot Stephane Houdet in the men’s singles title clash 5-7 6-2 6-1, while world number three and first seed Jiske Griffioen from the Netherlands rallied from one set down to defeat Sabine Ellerbrock from Germany 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-1 for the women’s singles title.
Sithole lost to Wagner in two successive finals at Ellis Park in 2013 and 2014, but he levelled a warning at Wagner when he beat world number three Andy Lapthorne from Great Britain in the semi-final.
Lisa Field from Alberhart Tennis Club, who was an outstanding tennis player Alberton sportswoman of the year several times in the eighties and also currently the executive secretary of the Central Alberton Sport Council, is at present Alberton’s involvement in wheelchair tennis in the country at administrative management level.
