Wheelchair Tennis South Africa (WTSA) has confirmed that Donald Ramphadi will join forces with Lucas Sithole and Danny Mohlamonyane in the quads team to represent the country in the BNP Paribus World Team Cup.
The International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) flagship wheelchair tennis team event got under way on Monday and will run until Sunday in Appeldorn, Netherlands.
Forty-four teams from 25 countries will take part in this year’s competition. The Netherlands will stage the event for the fourth time, with men’s, women’s, quad and junior events held across two venues: Tennis Club de Sprenkelaar and Tennis Club de Maten.
The 24-year-old Ramphadi, who was classified as a quad player last month, said he was delighted to be afforded another opportunity to represent the country in the World Team Cup.
‘I’m very grateful for this opportunity, nothing beats the feeling of representing your country. I will give it my all and work together with my team for better results.
‘I feel so excited going to the Netherlands. I’m particularly proud to represent my country on the big stage. This is a great moment for me and I hope to enjoy each match.’
Ramphadi represented South Africa in two World Team Cups, in 2011 in Pretoria as a junior and in 2013 at Antalya, Korea Republic in the men’s event.
The Limpopo-born player and teammates Evans Maripa, Leon Els and Marshall Marsh played a few close matches in World Group I in Antalya and ended the event by automatically qualifying for the 2014 event to compete in World Group II.
The draw for the 2018 competition was made on Sunday and South Africa was drawn in Pool A with Australia, Japan and Israel. The team will play top seed Australia in Pool A of the quad event in Monday’s opening ties.
Photo (from left to right): Quad ace Sithole, Mohlamonyane and Ramphadi during a training session at UJ Tennis Courts in Westdene, Johannesburg, by Wheelchair Tennis South Africa