Teen sensation Khololwam Montsi is serving up some serious game at the Roland Garros Championships in Paris. He recently won his debut match and is also the second ever black South African to represent the country at the French Open Juniors, and the first in 20 years.
The 17-year-old scored his win during the second round of the prestigious competition, beating French competitor Axel Garcian 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday, October 4. Montsi played his heart out and almost lost the intense match, but ended off victorious.
A debut and a first @rolandgarros Junior Championships win!
Kholo Montsi eases into the second round 6-2, 6-2 over Axel Garcian of France. #RolandGarros l @MontsiBrothers pic.twitter.com/hWEDEodY3K
— Tennis South Africa (@TennisSA) October 4, 2020
Unfortunately, Montsi lost both his singles and doubles matches on Tuesday, October 6.
Not to be for Kholo Montsi in Paris☹️
Montsi has lost both his singles and doubles matches at @rolandgarros despite a hard-fought performance.
Montsi and his Ivorian partner Coulibaly, lost 6-1, 7-6(3) to French pair Atmane & Malgaroli in the first round.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/HTdBFjqLkd
— Tennis South Africa (@TennisSA) October 6, 2020
Despite his loss, South Africans are rallying behind this talented sportsman to celebrate his first win.
@MontsiBrothers #KholoMontsi you did an amazing job. Rest, you need it. Immensely proud of you #RolandGarros #juniorcup
— Christine Diampovisa (@DvisaChris) October 6, 2020
Super proud of you @MontsiBrothers #KholoMontsi ! Keep dreaming BIG??? #RolandGarros
— Deb Skinstad (@DebSkinstad) October 6, 2020
We are still so incredibly proud of you, Kholo https://t.co/3xklRNRSmz
— Kate Nokwe (@This_Kate) October 6, 2020
The King William’s Town-born player lives in Cape Town and is based at the Anthony Harris Tennis Academy, the same academy that delivered world-famous tennis star Lloyd Harris, who Montsi says is a big inspiration.
Montsi comes from a line of athletes. His mother is renowned sprinter Pumla Montsi, and his brother Sipho is also a tennis player.
He is currently ranked 13th in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) world junior rankings.
The last Black South African who competed at Roland Garros was Peter-Jon Nomdo, back in 2000. Nomdo is now one of Montsi’s coaches.
He is not the only one waving the South African flag high at the championships. Wheelchair-bound tennis star Kgothatso Montjane is back on the court after a seven-month lay-off. She will go up against Japanese World number one Momoko Ohtani in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, October 7.
South African wheelchair tennis superstar @KGmontjane1 is in action today at @rolandgarros, where she takes on Japanese world no.10 Momoko Ohtani in the opening round (quarterfinals).
?️Wed, 7 October 2020
?Not before 13:00
?️Court no.9#RolandGarros I #WheelchairTennis pic.twitter.com/lAgDa4fgTi— Tennis South Africa (@TennisSA) October 7, 2020
Picture: Twitter