Sithole and Montjane results, Day 1 at the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters

SA’s no.1 in the womens division Kgothatso Montjane world ranked 9, started her opening match against world no.3 Aniek van Koot (NED) strong taking the 1^st set 6-4. It was a determined van Koot that came back winning the match 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. Montjane will be facing the Dutch world no.5 Marjolein Buis today. The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters is taking place from 26 November - 30 November 2014. Stay up to date by following us on Twitter and/or Facebook.

 

Wednesday 26 November - NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters - Day 1

Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, London

 

Jordanne Whiley added to her Grand Slam winning year with a shock victory over World No.1 and top seed Japan's Yui Kamiji on Day 1 at the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters in London. Says Jordanne Whiley, "I had a plan and I wanted to really stick to it.  Today I was really focused and that was definitely the best singles match of my career so it was a good start to the tournament. My serve was atrocious today but I was quite lucky that Yui’s serve wasn’t on it as well but I need to work on that for tomorrow; I’m not sure what went wrong there so I need to speak to my coach and sort that out. I was nervous throughout the whole thing but I’ve been working on my nerves lately and I definitely wasn’t as nervous as I used to be so that’s something that’s definitely improved. I like playing people that I like, because I respect them so if they make a winner past me I don’t feel angry inside, I just say ok, next one.  Me and Yui are best friends so people might think it’s quite difficult but business is business and she knows that and I know that. I still haven’t made the semis yet so I’ll be coming out tomorrow fighting, I still need another win at least so that’s my challenge now.” Whiley's fellow Brits Andy Lapthorne and Gordon Reid did not fare so well, both losing their opening Group matches but both remained optimistic about their chances for the rest of the week.

Says Andy Lapthorne, “If you count the games it’s fourteen games all, but that’s the way tennis works, I didn’t win them in the right order.  It’s nice being involved in matches like that, I believe me and Dylan are taking the division to a new level, it was a good match to watch but it’s a tough one to take as I had the match on my strings there. I’ve been there and done it and beaten the other two guys (David Wagner and Lucas Sithole) at the US Open when I had, in my eyes, more pressure.  I’m looking to go out the rest of the week with confidence, get a win under my belt tomorrow and hopefully it will be winner takes all with me and Wags (David Wagner) on Friday.  If I can set that up, although it won’t be easy as Lucas has a good record against me, with the amount of people I’ve got coming down on Friday it should be a very good event, I’ll look forward to it.  It’s always good to have family and friends come and watch, they lift you when you need lifting, and I’m from round here so it’s nice to have the opportunity to play in East London.”

Says Gordon Reid, “It was a really tough match today.  I think Joachim (Gerard) served really well and these courts really suit his style of play so it was tough for me to be aggressive, which is how I want to play.   I beat him last week in Nottingham on a slow court but these courts are much faster, but I had my chances and didn’t take them do I’ve only got myself to blame. The next two matches are both going to be tough.  Stephane (Houdet) is No.2 in the world and Nico (Peifer) beat him today so they’re both in good form, so every match here is going to be tough.  Everyone apart from Shingo (Kunieda) lost to someone lower ranked than them today so it’s really difficult to call because the level is so close, but that’s the beauty of the round robin, you can lose once and still go through so I’ll fight to the end.”

Australia's Dylan Alcott who defeated Lapthorne credited the Brit's performance and also commented on his return to London after competing for Australia at the 2012 Paralympic Games in basketball. “I’m stuffed, that was probably one of the best matches I’ve ever played and Andy played unbelievable, so it was really really tough.  I played him last week and it was a lot easier than that so when he came out so strong I was a bit on the back foot straight away.  It’s good to come out, I was struggling at the end, cramping, it’s surprisingly hot and with the tension but I’m pretty stoked to come through with the goods. It’s weird to be back, bit like deja vu when we drove past where Australia stayed in 2012.  It’s quite funny, on the programme there are photos of everyone playing tennis here at the Paralympics, but I was playing basketball!  I’m the only one without a photo!”

 

RESULTS

Men:

Group A - Shingo Kunieda (JPN) d. Maikel Scheffers (NED) 61 63

Group A - Takashi Sanada (JPN) d. Gustavo Fernandez (ARG) 75 75

Group B - Joachim Gerard (BEL) d. Gordon Reid (GBR) 57 75 75

Group B - Nicolas Peifer (FRA) d. Stephane Houdet (FRA) 64 63

 

Quads:

Dylan Alcott (AUS) d. Andy Lapthorne 26 64 64

David Wagner (USA) d. Lucas Sithole 61 61

 

Women:

Group A - Jordanne Whiley (GBR) d. Yui Kamiji (JPN) 62 63

Group A - Sabine Ellerbrock (GER) d. Sharon Walraven (NED) 75 61

Group B - Jiske Griffioen (NED) Marjolein Buis (NED) 63 61

Group B - Aniek Van Koot (NED) d. Kgothatso Montjane (RSA) 46 61 61