KGOTHATSO Montjane secured a straight sets victory over world No 2, Yui Kamiji of Japan, to move into the semifinals of the Melbourne Open yesterday – an International Tennis Federation (ITF) level 2 event that forms part of the Wheelchair Tennis Tour.
According to the tennis star, it has a been a great journey so far for her in Australia.
“I played a great match, I played my best tennis and made few mistakes. I’m very confident going into the big one, the Australian Open Grand Slam,” said Montjane.
The South African and seventh seed produced a masterful performance to beat her Japanese counterpart 6-3 6-2 and advance to the last four in Melbourne.
Montjane’s win against top seed Kamiji sees her meet third seed Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock for a place in the final.
It will be a repeat of last week’s Sydney Open women singles quarterfinal round, where the South African ace sent the third seed Ellerbrock packing 6-4 7-6(5). Ellerbrock will surely try to avenge her Sydney loss today.
Montjane also added another top title to her portfolio after winning the wheelchair tennis doubles at the Sydney Open.
The Limpopo star and doubles partner Ellerbrock defeated fourth-seeds Kanako Domori and Japan’s Kamiji in straight sets 6-2 6-4.
- In the quads event, top ranked South African Lucas Sithole wasted little time when he sped past Chile’s Pablo Araya 6-0 6-0.
Sithole will now play Antony Cotterill of Great Britain in the semifinal. Cotterill overpowered Heath Davidson of Australia to reach the last four.