#Donald Ramphadi

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[22012025] itftennis Instagram update:

Winning mood at the Australian Open Wheelchair Championships ✊️ #WheelchairTennis | #AusOpen

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Wimbledon QWD F: Guy Sasson/Niels Vink [1] def. Donald Ramphadi/Gregory Slade 6-0, 6-2 Match Stats

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Donald/Greg briefly came back as the first seeds went slightly tight when serving for the match later in the second set, but it was Guy/Niels' point construction, including the latter's frequent drop-shots, that helped them to dictate the flow. Winning 69% of their receiving points, Guy/Niels appeared more aggressive as they scored 7 shot winners, with the unseeded pair committed higher unforced errors (12 to 7) that only allowed the first seed to stay dominant throughout this match due to their erratic follow-ups, with Guy/Niels converting 70% of their 10 break opportunities compared to Donald/Greg's 40% out of their 5 chances to break.

Besides, Guy/Niels' consistent service games also helped them dominate the flow. Scoring 2 aces while Donald/Greg was unable to serve one, the first seeds landed 70% of their first serves, winning 59% of their first serve points to stay in control of this match. However, the unseeded pair double-faulted three times more often (6 to 2), thus they only won 12% of their second serve points compared to Guy/Niels' 64, which did not help them to nail the pressing moments.

This marked Niels/Guy's second Grand Slam title together (alongside the 2025 Roland Garros) apart from their fifth overall title together as a pair, likely putting themselves at the top of the doubles Race. Somehow, Niels concluded the quad wheelchair tournament in a dominant manner as he also won the singles title, defeating second seed and compatriot Sam Schroder 6-3, 6-3 thanks to his more solid and aggressive play. Things started to open up in the wheelchairs, but it should be an amazing follow from here.

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A noite de quinta-feira (26), tarde de sexta em Melbourne, na Austrália, reservou um feito inédito para o tênis brasileiro: a paulista Luisa Stefani e o gaúcho Rafael Matos bateram a dupla formada pelos indianos Sania Mirza e Rohan Bopanna por 2 sets a 0, parciais de 7/6 (7/2) e 6/2 e conquistaram o título do Aberto da Austrália nas duplas mistas. Pela primeira vez, uma parceria entre dois tenistas brasileiros é campeã de um Grand Slam, como é chamado cada um dos principais torneios de tênis do mundo. O país já tinha títulos nas chaves de simples, duplas e duplas mistas, mas os outros brasileiros a vencer jogando duplas (Maria Esther Bueno, Marcelo Melo, Bruno Soares e Thomaz Koch) sempre o fizeram jogando com parceiros estrangeiros. "É um pouco difícil ainda descrever o sentimento. Não sei se caiu totalmente a ficha, mas poder desfrutar deste momento do lado de uma brasileira é muito especial. Não é sempre que a gente pode ter esse privilégio", afirmou Rafael após a conquista histórica. A vitória na final  – que durou pouco menos de uma hora e meia  – coroou uma semana perfeita para a dupla que joga junto há apenas um mês e perdeu apenas um set em cinco partidas disputadas. Luisa e Rafael atuaram pela primeira vez como dupla durante a United Cup, competição por países, realizada no fim de dezembro. Os dois traziam para a parceria uma performance sólida como duplistas – Rafael é o número 29 do mundo e Luisa a 34ª. Luisa carrega no currículo, inclusive, uma medalha de bronze nos Jogos de Tóquio, ao lado de Laura Pigossi. Desde então, viveu grandes emoções. Lesionou o joelho durante a disputa do Aberto dos Estados Unidos, em setembro de 2021, e ficou um ano fora das quadras. Retornou aos poucos e conquistou, na semana anterior ao Aberto da Austrália, o WTA 500 de Adelaide. Em Melbourne, Luiza acabou não podendo participar da chave de duplas femininas após a desistência de sua parceira, a americana Caty McNally, por lesão. O título inédito, junto com Rafael, foi mais um acontecimento marcante em um período determinante da carreira de Luisa, de 25 anos. "Passa um filme na cabeça de tudo que eu passei até aqui. Realmente, nesses últimos meses foi muita coisa muito intensa. (Vencer um Grand Slam) era um sonho desde criança, desde que eu comecei a jogar tênis, e isso virou minha paixão, minha meta de vida. Poder estar aqui e compartilhar com o Rafa, outro brasileiro e fazer história para o tênis brasileiro, não há como descrever a sensação e a importância disso para mim", disse Luisa. Ymanitu é vice Outro brasileiro que chegou à final do Aberto da Austrália e acabou ficando com o vice-campeonato foi Ymanitu Silva, catarinense que compete no tênis em cadeira de rodas. Silva, que é o oitavo do mundo na categoria Quad (para atletas que também têm deficiência nos membros superiores), jogou ao lado do sul-africano Donald Ramphadi e perdeu a decisão para os holandeses Sam Schroder e Niels Vink por 2 sets a 0 (6/1 e 6/3). Este foi o segundo vice-campeonato de Ymanitu Silva em um Grand Slam. Em 2022, atuando com o australiano Heath Davidson, ele foi derrotado em Paris, na final do torneio de Roland Garros. Edição: Nádia Franco - Agência Brasil

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📸 🎥 BBC

The second set then kicked off with nearly a smooth service game for Guy/Niels, where even though a game point was foiled due to Niels' forehand error moments after Guy's drop-shot (with the forehand going too long) and another shot winner from Donald/Greg, the first seeds still held their serve to 1-0. After Niels' preceding drop-shot, Guy fired a drop-shot to widen the gap, but they broke to 2-0 thanks to Niels' timely, anticipative volley to Donald's +1 drop-shot even if one of the earlier break points came from Greg's rare drop-shot winner.

The first seeds then consolidated their position to 3-0, but they continued through Niels' swift return to extend that lead, but Greg's double-faults only caused Guy/Niels to double their break advantage to 4-0. However, Guy's failed drop-shot converted the unseeded pair's break-back to 4-1, but Donald's preceding shot confirmed their break point earlier on. Niels then fired a forehand winner to secure an earlier lead before breaking back to 5-1, but Donald's backhand drop-shot confirmed another break back to 5-2 as Guy/Niels should have served for the title. Nonetheless, Guy took advantage of an erratic service game from Greg and fired a swift backhand return to break for the second set 6-2, thus winning them the title.

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📸 BBC

Meanwhile, in No. 3 Court...

The Quad Wheelchair Doubles finals then continued the weekend finals action as first seeds Niels Vink/Guy Sasson, who knocked out Francisco Cayulef/Andy Lapthorne 6-1, 6-2 in a straightforward manner, faced Donald Ramphadi/Gregory Slade, who stunned second seeds Ahmet Kaplan/Sam Schroder 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-5 in another classic encounter back in the previous round. While this match had a fun premise, this turned out to be a one-way affair thanks to the former's stellar return game in some pressing occasions.

Even though Guy/Niels faced a break point due to an unforced error, they still remained solid with a hold to 1-0 to start this match. Afterward, Greg's double-fault caused the deuce before Niels' forehand winner generated the first seeds' initial break point, but Guy's forehand winner converted their second break point to 2-0. Surviving another break point in the next game, Guy's drop-shot helped them to consolidate their position to 3-0 by the end of that game.

They continued the next game as Donald's cross-court forehand winner set up his and Greg's game point, the initial deuce occurred after their unforced error before Guy's volley set up the first seeds' second deuce, and they somehow had another break point before Guy's swift backhand return to Donald's third-shot forehand error converted it to 4-0, followed by Guy/Niels' smooth service game hold to 5-0 to strengthen their position. Not long after, Guy's swift return after Greg's double-fault set up their 2-point lead before they somehow had a set point, which they converted over a swift return to Donald's +1 backhand error to break for the first-set bagel (6-0) to assert their dominance in this match.

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RG QWD F: Guy Sasson/Niels Vink [1] def. Ahmet Kaplan/Donald Ramphadi 6-3, 6-4 Match Stats

📸 France TV Sport

Even though A. Kaplan/D. Ramphadi had an interesting start to the match, Guy/Niels remained solid as they successfully regained their groundstrokes, seemingly in control until bringing the former pair out of position. Maintaining the margin right, the first seeds committed 2 less unforced errors than A. Kaplan/D. Ramphadi (24 to 26), converting 60% of their 10 break points while scoring 3 more shot winners with 12 to display their aggression in this match.

Guy/Niels also was more consistent on serve, which also helped them having the slight advantage in this already return-heavy match. Even though both pairs landed 83% of their first serves, the first seeds won 54% of their first serve points, 7% more than the unseeded pair, which helped them set the rhythm of this match. However, A. Kaplan/D. Ramphadi only won 11% of their second serve points, which did not help them follow up from the grounds under pressure.

Since partnering up earlier this year, this marked Guy/Niels' first Grand Slam title together, with it being their fourth overall title together as a pair. Interestingly, they are currently squaring off in the Quad Wheelchair Singles final as they continue after the brief rain delay, with the more aggressive but balanced pair will prevail at the end, with some pacing in between. Should be an exciting match as well!

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📸 🎥 France TV Sport

The second set then began with Guy's forehand winner to the open court to set up the first seeds' one-point lead at the third point, which paved the way for their early break to 1-0 until Niels' forehand errors caused A. Kaplan/D. Ramphadi's break-back to 1-1. Interestingly, the unseeded pair saved a break point thanks to A. Kaplan's rare forehand winner before they held to 2-2, which prevented a potential second-set breadstick to happen.

The fifth game then kicked off with a rare volley from Guy to put himself ahead before they broke to 3-2 as the balance question was raised to the unseeded pair. The first seeds then consolidated their position with a hold to 4-2, and Niels' drop-shot set up their one-point lead as they tried to double the break, but the game ended with A. Kaplan/D. Ramphadi's hold to 4-3. In the next two games, one of the rare forehand lobs from D. Ramphadi set up his and A. Kaplan's initial game points, but they were foiled until they secured another massive hold to 5-4 as they saved a match point on the deciding point before that. As a result, Guy/Niels had their chance to serve for the match, where even though they had a match point saved over a different error, they still took the second set 6-4 for their first Grand Slam title together as a pair.

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📸 France TV Sport

The other day, the action also kicked off with the Quad Wheelchair Doubles final between Ahmet Kaplan/Donald Ramphadi, who reached their first Grand Slam final together as a pair after stunning second seed Sam Schroder/Andy Lapthorne 6-3, 2-6, [10-7] in the semifinals, and first seeds Niels Vink/Guy Sasson, who defeated Francisco Cayulef/Robert Shaw 6-0, 6-2 in a completely lopsided flow. This turned out to have some interesting beginnings, but the firmer pair would nail this match at the end.

A forehand error from Guy's half set up A. Kaplan/D. Ramphadi's break point before they broke early to 1-0, but this already aged well as D. Ramphadi started the game with a forehand error before Niels' volley set up their break point, which was immediately converted to 1-1. The first seeds then held their service game to 2-1, and continued with Niels' volley starting the next game before the unseeded pair's unforced errors caused the break of serve to 3-1.

However, a rare forehand winner from D. Ramphadi put themselves 2 points ahead before breaking back to 3-2 over a different forehand winner from A. Kaplan, but a crucial hold came at the deciding point of the next game due to A. Kaplan's backhand error. Even if a backhand error from the first seeds closed the gap for A. Kaplan/D. Ramphadi, Niels/Guy stayed solid and held their serves to 4-3. This was followed by Niels' backhand winner in the next game, which opened the chance for their break of serve to 5-3, where they successfully served for the first set 6-3 despite conceding 2 points thanks to their defenses, with a longer rally closing the exchange to put themselves ahead in this match.

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Wimbledon QWS QF: Guy Sasson def. Donald Ramphadi 6-0, 6-1 Match Stats

📸 Eurosport SE

Guy turned out to be the more dominant one in this match, where his anticipation and precision were rewarded with some shot winners along the way. With this kind of aggression, he had 22 winners while converting 5 out of 6 break points he had, winning 35 more points than D. Ramphadi, who committed 9 more unforced errors and was unable to convert his break point earlier in this match.

Furthermore, it was statistically confirmed that D. Ramphadi had no second serves. 5 of them turned out to be double faults, while his +1 errors and some other extended rallies-related unforced errors did not help. In contrast, Guy was outstanding in his first serves, landing 59% of his first serves while winning 83% of his first serve points, optimizing his chances even though D. Ramphadi scored an ace somewhere in this match.

In the semifinals, Guy will face second seed Niels Vink, who earlier defeated Heath Davidson 6-3, 6-3 in the quarterfinals. This would be a "here we go again" moment as in the Grand Slam-level alone, they met twice this year with Guy winning both of them competitively, one in three sets and one in two sets. This could be intriguing to see where their pacing, point construction, and balance of power in general fare, especially considering their aggression at their best. Should be one of those matches to look forward to in the quad wheelchair sector!

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📸 🎥 Eurosport SE

The second set started with a rare massive hold from D. Ramphadi before Guy's smooth service game also held. Somehow, D. Ramphadi's second serve problem persisted, where it was peaked by his (casual) underarm serve was responded by Guy's slice forehand return ace to break 3-1 moments after D. Ramphadi had a +1 forehand error (fired too long).

Afterward, Guy consolidated his lead to 4-1. Somehow, Guy kept his points slightly shorter, with another forehand return ace caught in between service game errors to set himself 2 points ahead before breaking to 5-1. By then, he earned the chance to serve for the second-set breadstick, which he did (6-1) to secure his spot in the semifinals.

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📸 Eurosport SE

The Quad Wheelchair Singles sector in Wimbledon finally kicked off (delayed due to rain) as Donald Ramphadi took on Guy Sasson in the quarterfinals. Interestingly enough, they paired together to clinch the Australian Open Quad Wheelchair Doubles runner-up, where they fell short to Andrew Lapthorne/David Wagner in the finals. Somehow, this turned out to be a straightforward match due to some second serve reasons, as well as some return game issues that followed.

Although D. Ramphadi had an intriguing start with a forehand return ace that secured his break point (0-0* 30-40), Guy ended up controlling most of the rest after massively holding the said service game to 1-0. Here, the former started his service game with a double fault, but even his forehand errors (some were +1) not help because Guy converted his break point through his forehand return ace to 2-0, signifying the necessity of anticipation even when the ball bounced once (as if they played standing). Afterward, Guy held his serves to 3-0.

Somehow, Guy's dominance did not stop as his forehand return ace secured himself 2 points ahead. D. Ramphadi's forehand error then created Guy's break point, where even though his forehand winner saved it, the latter still doubled the break to 4-0. Guy then consolidated his position with a service game hold to 5-0, and somehow benefited from D. Ramphadi's second serve mess, as a double fault converted his set point to serve the first-set bagel (6-0), asserting more dominance in this match.

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AO QWD F: Andrew Lapthorne/David Wagner def. Donald Ramphadi/Guy Sasson 6-4, 3-6, [10-2] Match Stats

📸 Eurosport IL

Once Donald/Guy dialed in, they were able to absorb some pace, thus reaching the necessary balance to level the play. This contributed toward the equal number of winners (23-23) between both pairs, but they took too much risks from the baseline, which resulted in them committing 7 more unforced errors along the way. Furthermore, Donald/Guy maximized their chances with a 66% break point conversion rate with only 6 break points, 3 lesser than Donald/Guy, who were unable to capitalize further due to their unforced errors in execution, including in setting up the match tie-break that led Andy/David to be more proactive on the net.

On the other hand, Andy/David had a slight edge on serve. Landing 80% of their first serves, they won 6% more points than Donald/Guy, who often found trouble in that department in the beginning of the match, added by their 3 aces. In contrast, despite double-faulting twice to Andy/David's 1, Donald/Guy still won 8% of his points from there while trying to get out of trouble on return.

This marked Andy/David's second Grand Slam as a pair after the US Open 2014. On the other hand, while this was Donald/Guy's first final as a pair, Guy will contest tomorrow's Quad Wheelchair Singles final against first seed Sam Schroder, who defeated his partner Donald 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinal. This could be interesting to see how their intensity held up, considering the 7-5, 6-2 scoreline in favor of Sam in their last Grand Slam meeting (US Open quarterfinals). Should be a fun watch!

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📸 🎥 Eurosport IL

However, Donald/Guy started the match tie-break erratically, which cost them the moment they built from the second set compared to the rest of the match. A misfired forehand executed too far from Donald resulted in Andy/David's 1-0 lead before the latter consolidated through Guy's backhand error (2-0), but Guy still took too much risks from his forehand side (cross-court error) for Andy/David to lead 3-0. However, two points later, Guy's double-fault did not help them except for Andy/David to lead 4-1. Subsequently, a failed slice closing from Donald/Guy extended Andy/David's lead to 5-1.

Since then, Andy/David became more dominant, with them trying to press Donald/Guy from the baseline and having the net player, which in most cases was David, poach via volleys in the most convenient time possible. This carried the former pair for 3 points (between 6-1 and 7-1) before Andy's forehand winner secured their huge lead to 8-1. The aforementioned poached volley as well created their match point to 9-1, but Donald/Guy applied it too late to save just one match point to 9-2. Patience was definitely a virtue for Andy/David, whose match point was finally converted due to Donald's forehand error to finish, thus the former winning the match tie-break 10-2, as well as winning them the title (as a pair) after 10 years.

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📸 🎥 Eurosport IL

Compared to their slow start in the first set, Donald/Guy started more aggressively, but Guy's let cord moment 2 points into the set paved the way before his preceding forehand outhit Andy/David for their break point. This was eventually converted for their early break (1-0) only to be broken back due to a poor shot selection from Donald (a topspin backhand instead of a volley at the net, theoretically), which was followed by Andy/David's smash to create their break point before they broke back to 1-1. Even though Donald/Guy had their moments when they were 2 points ahead in the next game (one of which thanks to Guy's powerful forehand winner), a failed volley from Donald/Guy secured Andy/David's hold to 2-1, which asked further questions on the net game and shot placement as the match went by, among others.

Three consecutive holds later, Donald secured a crucial point through a working volley to open the gate to create their break point, which was converted several points later thanks to Guy's forehand winner (3-2). In the game afterward, Donald's notable get set their one-point lead before a 37-shot rally, defense-to-offense, generated their game point before holding their serves to 4-2. There was also a notable volley from David in the eighth game (*4-3 to 15-30), which was replied to similarly before holding their serves to 5-3, which signified an improvement in their net games as well. Ultimately, Donald/Guy's return depth in the game afterward caused David to miss his +1 shot to start the game before Donald's forehand down-the-line set their 2-point lead before Guy's forehand winner secured them the set 2 points later, bringing this match to the match tie-breaker to mark their step-up offensives started to pay off.