Lucas Sithole (tennis)

Lucas Sithole (born 30 September 1986) is a South African wheelchair tennis player. He plays in the Quad division of the sport. Sithole is the 2013 US Open wheelchair tennis quad champion.[1] He also won the 2016 Australian Open Grand Slam in doubles, partnering David Wagner.[2]

Lucas Sithole
Country (sports) South Africa
Born (1986-09-30) 30 September 1986
Johannesburg, South Africa
PlaysLeft Handed
Singles
Career record247–102
Highest rankingNo. 2 (9 September 2013)
Current rankingNo. 4 (19 December 2017)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenF (2014)
US OpenW (2013)
Other tournaments
MastersF (2013)
Paralympic GamesSF (2016)
Doubles
Career record103–78
Highest rankingNo. 3 (3 June 2013)
Current rankingNo. 5 (19 December 2017)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenW (2016)
WimbledonF (2018)
US OpenF (2013, 2014)

Due to missing certain anti-doping tests, Sithole was suspended from competition between 30 September 2019 and 30 September 2021.[3][4]

Tennis career
Lucas Sithole and Heath Davidson at the 2017 UNIQLO Doubles Masters

Lucas Sithole started competing in international wheelchair tennis events in 2006. In July 2011, he won the British Open wheelchair tennis tournament (Super Series) in Nottingham, Great Britain. In 2013, Sithole won the US Open Grand Slam. In the final, he played against World No 1 David Wagner, and won 3–6, 6–4, 6–4.[5]

In the 2017 UNIQLO Wheelchair Doubles Masters, Lucas Sithole and Heath Davidson finished at the third place.[6]

Sithole is the first African player to win a Super Series Event or a Grand Slam.[7]

In 2018, Sithole was a runner-up alongside Dylan Alcott at the first ever men's quads doubles event during the 2018 Wimbledon Championships.[8]

Personal life

Sithole is a native of KwaZulu-Natal.[9] He became a triple amputee in 1998 following a train accident.[10]

References
  1. "ITF Tennis - WHEELCHAIR - Articles - Houdet, van Koot, Sithole triumph at US Open". www.itftennis.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013.
  2. http://www.itftennis.com/wheelchair/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=100098277
  3. "ITF Tennis - ANTIDOPING".
  4. "Sithole accepts charge for doping violation".
  5. "South Africa has a US Open champ – his name is Lucas Sithole". 11 September 2017.
  6. http://cms.itftennis.com/media/277215/277215.pdf
  7. "Lucas Sithole: 'A victory for the disabled sons and daughters of the motherland'".
  8. "Impressive Wimbledon campaigns end for Alcott, Hijikata". Tennis Australia. 15 July 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  9. "Lucas Sithole takes third place Wheelchair Tennis Masters". Archived from the original on 22 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. "No legs and one arm but Lucas Sithole is a 'rolling inspiration'". 5 December 2013.
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