South Africans cheered as they welcomed Donald Ramphadi home from Paris France; the Grand Slam champion made an entrance, his winning title held high!
Johannesburg, South Africa (20 June 2023) – Donald Ramphadi touched down in South Africa on the 19th of June 2023 at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, as a Grand Slam champion. South Africans were there to give him a hero’s welcome home.
Despite a delay in his arrival due to bad weather, Ramphadi was showered with cheers and praise as he arrived home in South Africa. He even got surprised with a few gifts.
Donald Ramphadi made history after becoming the first South African (able-bodied or adaptive athlete) to win the Grand Slam title in decades. His achievement is huge! After the Roland Garros French Open, Ramphadi competed at the French Riviera Open, an ITF Super Series wheelchair event in Biot, France. From there he turned his sights homeward.
Born and raised in Limpopo, he went on to make his Wimbledon debut in 2022. He’s a highly ranked quad tennis player and reached his global ranking of no 4 recently.
Tennis South Africa encouraged fans and media to join them in welcoming him home and boy did they!
“Our wheelchair tennis Grand Slam champion Donald Ramphadi has arrived home! He was given a warm welcome by the honourable Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture, Zizi Kodwa. SASCOC’s Khotso Mokoena, TSA Board Member Robin Baloyi, Gauteng SACR Acting Chief Director, his team, fans, and media were also there to celebrate his triumphant return.” – Tennis South Africa
by 