SA players Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole secured third place with a dominant 2–0 victory over the French pairing of Thomas Huguenin and Michel Jutin.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Selepe said the federation welcomed the result, particularly given the challenges faced in the lead‑up to the tournament.

“The result is something else. The federation weighs results based on the readiness and overall well-being of the team. The federation welcomes the outcome, even with expectations for more, because the challenges going into the tournament were known,” Selepe said.

Sithole set the tone with a convincing 6–2, 6–0 win over Huguenin, before Ramphadi sealed the tie with a 4–6, 6–1, 6–2 victory against Jutin. Despite the podium finish, the SA duo did not qualify for the main event scheduled to take place from September 16 in the United States.

“Yes, qualification for the main event did not happen, but progress is clear. The focus now shifts to preparation for the Paralympics and continued improvement in individual rankings with 2028 in mind,” Selepe added.

Selepe also highlighted the pedigree of the pair, pointing to past success on the global stage.

Sithole is a former Australian Open singles champion, while Ramphadi has won the Roland Garros doubles title. Both players also claimed bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, underlining SA’s strength in wheelchair tennis.

–SABCSport/ChannelAfrica–