Lucas Sithole and Donald Ramphadi have continued to fly the South African flag proudly as the team represents in the BNP Paribas World Team Cup Qualifiers in Italy.
Italy (11 May 2026) – South Africa’s quad wheelchair tennis team is continuing to fight hard in Italy, with Paralympic medallists Lucas Sithole and Donald Ramphadi once again showing plenty of determination on the international stage.
The South African side is currently competing at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup European Qualification in Alghero, where teams are battling for a coveted place at the World Team Cup finals later this year.
After opening their campaign with an impressive 3-0 victory over Switzerland, South Africa followed it up with another strong performance against Austria, sweeping that tie 3-0 as well.
But one of the biggest tests of the tournament came against Israel in a tightly contested clash that kept the pressure on from start to finish.
Sithole gave Team South Africa the ideal start, producing a composed display to defeat Noam Gershony in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. Israel responded in the second singles match, with Guy Sasson overcoming Ramphadi 6-2, 6-1 to level the tie and force a deciding doubles match.
With everything on the line, Sithole and Ramphadi battled hard in the doubles, but Gershony and Sasson eventually secured the win for Israel with a 6-4, 6-1 result.
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Plenty of Green and Gold: The South African Sport to Watch This WeekendThe team, coached by Khotso Matshego, now turns its attention to the bronze medal playoff against Turkey as they continue pushing to finish the tournament strongly.
The tournament remains another important opportunity for South Africa’s players to compete against some of the best in the world while building momentum on the road towards future international competitions, including the qualification pathway for the 2028 Paralympic Games.
And with one more tie still to play, Team South Africa will be eager to end their campaign in Italy on a high note.
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