From grief to greatness: Montjane finds strength for Australian Open quest

FOUR-time wheelchair tennis Grand Slam doubles champion Kgothatso “KG” Montjane is eager to put the heartache of 2025 behind her as she resumes her pursuit of a fifth major title at the Australian Open later this month.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

South Africa’s most decorated tennis player experienced a year of sharp contrasts in 2025.

On court, Montjane continued to cement her status among the elite of women’s wheelchair tennis, lifting the French Open doubles title alongside her longtime Japanese partner Yui Kamiji and reaching the Wimbledon singles semifinals in another reminder of her enduring class.

Off court, however, she endured profound personal loss that tested her resilience more than any opponent ever could.

“Last year was my toughest year, where I was dealing with the loss of my mom and still I’m grieving, but I’m also finding strength to get myself fully back in, taking it one day at a time,” she told Independent Media.