South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane has called on the International Tennis Federation to address the issue of representation.
Montjane and Japan’s Yui Kamiji lost the Wimbledon women’s wheelchair doubles final to the Netherlands’ Diede de Groot and Jiske Griffioen.
Speaking to Newsday on the BBC World Service, Montjane felt that “maybe the ITF needs to push harder” on the issue.
She was the first black South African woman to compete at Wimbledon in 2018.
Montjane and Kamiji partnered for the first time this year at Roland Garros, winning the French Open women’s wheelchair doubles title.
“I don’t know if it’s the issue of money; is it because we are poor? I don’t know. I’m looking for the answers, I want to know why,” Montjane said.
“I’m being told you’re the first one so it’s a bittersweet moment for me [winning the French Open].
“I want to celebrate, but at the same time I started late and I might be retiring soon. Who’s next from Africa to do it?”
Montjane became the first South African woman to win a French Open title since Tanya Harford and Rosalyn Fairbank won the women’s doubles in 1981, but believes there is enough talent on the continent.
“I really wish some fellow Africans can get an opportunity because I believe there’s talent out there,” said Montjane.
“I feel like I’m a beacon of hope somehow, because I’m doing it in a wheelchair. And when you look around, no-one is really doing it, apart from the lady from Tunisia [Ons Jabeur].
“As a black person, I’m just hoping people can see [what I’m doing] and invest more in black kids, so that we can see many more of us [doing it too]”.
Funding issues despite ITF pathways
Andrew Moss, head of the ITF World Tour, told the BBC’s Newsday that the matter is being addressed.
“There is talent on the continent that can break through into the top of the game; the elite game can come from anywhere,” he said.
“And so the ITF has invested a lot of money both in development pathways, and also to help put on professional tournaments to help that happen.”
Aside from the obvious motivation of winning another Grand Slam title, Montjane hopes her performances can inspire wheelchair tennis players, particularly black women back home.
Moss says that keeping people open to the idea of playing the sport beyond junior level is the key to success.
“We’ve seen a significant…
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