Lucas Sithole and Donald Ramphadi of South Africa won bronze in the quad doubles at the Paris Paralympics, earning the nation’s first wheelchair tennis medal.
In the bronze medal final, Sithole and Ramphadi defeated Brazilians Leandro Pena and Ymanitu Silva 6-2, 4-6, 10-8.
Ramphadi, 31, who suffered from brittle bone illness when he was twelve, won the French Open doubles championship with Lapthorne last year and advanced to the finals in the Australian Open doubles two years prior. Moreover, Sithole, 37, who lost both of his legs in a train accident when he was twelve, took home the U.S. Australian Open doubles three years later after he won the Open singles in 2013.
“This venue is something special. Last year I won my first Grand Slam here on my birthday, now I have a Paralympic bronze medal. For me, to be here and winning a medal is crazy – I am just going to enjoy the moment,” Ramphadi admitted.
Furthermore, Sithole remarked: “It is our first big medal playing together and we’re very happy to write history…I was so happy to play with Donald today. He brought his A-game, even though he was nervous and made double faults – he owes me a whiskey… We were here to win today, not just represent.”
After defeating Andy Lapthorne and Greg Slade of Britain with a score of 6-1 6-1, the Dutch team of Niels Vink and Sam Schroder emerged victorious in the gold medal match.
Source: CNA