Donald Ramphadi at His First Wimbledon Final

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Limpopo’s Donald Ramphadi reaches his first-ever Wimbledon final and finds new purpose in his tennis career.

South Africa (18 July 2025) – When Donald Ramphadi talks about tennis and what it means to him, he does so with quiet conviction. He continues to rewrite the script of South African wheelchair tennis, earning a historic silver medal in his first-ever Wimbledon final. Teaming up with British partner Gregory Slade, Donald reached the quad wheelchair doubles final, only to fall 6-0, 6-2 to the dominant pairing of Niels Vink (Netherlands) and Guy Sasson (Israel).

Despite the loss, Donald remains upbeat and proud of the chemistry he and Gregory built on the court.

“No one believed we could do it,” he admitted “but once we got on court, something clicked. The support, the connection, all of it all came together.”

To make the final, Donald and Slade stunned Ahmet Kaplan and Sam Schroder in a gripping semi-final. The Wimbledon run comes just weeks after Donald and Ahmet claimed silver at the French Open, marking back-to-back Grand Slam final appearances for the South African. Another major career milestone.

This season of success was not always certain. Donald revealed he came close to quitting the sport in 2024 due to personal and financial pressures.

“I had a breakdown last year,” he shared. “I had to choose whether I keep going. But something magical happened. I remembered why I started and who I’m doing this for. Funding is one of the biggest challenges. I’m still paying for myself every day I go to tournaments, and whatever prize money I make, I put it back into my tennis so I can keep going.”

That “something magical” was family.

“I know what it’s like to grow up without parents around. I want to be there for my kids. That’s what’s driving me now.”

It is that drive to show up for those he loves that has given his tennis career a new sense of purpose.

The journey to Wimbledon success also came with a twist of fate. Initially unsure of his partner, Donald reached out to Gregory after his usual teammate opted for a different pairing. What started as a necessity quickly became a partnership built on trust, strategy, and shared determination.

Even as grass is not his preferred surface, Donald embraced the challenge.

“To see myself in a Wimbledon final on grass? That’s just unbelievable,” he said.

Now with two Grand Slam silver medals in the bag this year alone, Donald Ramphadi stands as a symbol of persistence and national pride. His eyes are firmly set on gold, but more importantly, on the journey and the people who fuel it.