The debut South African Spring Open tennis tournament is currently under way at the Ellis Park Tennis Stadium in Johannesburg. The biggest tennis talent in South Africa as well as several international tennis players have assembled for the week-long tournament, which ends on September 29. The inaugural SA Spring Open international tournament is sponsored by Vision View Productions.

Among the wheelchair tennis superstars, spectators can see Evans Maripa in action. This former South African world number 11 will spearhead the country’s charge in the men’s event with the aim of keeping the title at home. Other South African hopefuls include Leon Els and rising star Alwande Sikhosana.

The three aces will face strong opposition from current Dutch world number nine Tom Egberink, world number 19 Frédéric Cattaneo from France, and world number 30 Nico Langmann from Austria.

Spearheading the women’s challenge will be our own Wimbledon semi-finalist Kgothatso Montjane. As world number five, she will be the highest ranked player and the tournament favourite. Other notable contenders in the women’s competition include Mariska Venter; Emmanuelle Morch and Charlotte Fairbank, both from France; and reigning Soweto Open champion Büsra Ün from Turkey.

In the quads event, two-time Grand Slam champion Lucas Sithole will be pitting himself against compatriot Donald Ramphadi and former world number one Shraga Weinberg from Israel, who are among the three top-ranked quads players set to compete for the quads title.