Team SA wheelchair tennis duo relieved after bronze medal achievement

The duo won a historic bronze medal on Wednesday to secure Africa's first-ever Paralympic wheelchair tennis podium finish in the quad doubles.

Ramphadi says the third-place finish came as a relief to him.

"First of all, I'm actually relieved that I kept my promise, because that [failure] was going to be something else, but I understand that sports is something else – sometimes you win and sometimes you lose," said Ramphadi.

"But I'm actually happy that I managed to keep my promise, and I ended up the podium. 

The SA pair overcame Brazil’s Leandro Pena and Ymanitu Silva 6-2, 4-6, 10-8 in their final match to take Team SA’s medal tally to four. 

Ramphadi believes Sithole’s experience in big tournaments carried their partnership to the much-desired win.

"It's always the connection we have, and coupled with the fact that we also have a lot of experience because he [Sithole] has been doing this for the longest time," he added.

"When I started playing tennis, he was already big, and I always wished to be at his level. So to be sharing a court with him, that's just unbelievable.

"His experience actually helped us on the court in terms of how to communicate and all that, so it was much easier [to win] with him."

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