Former African No. 1 Evans Maripa continued his impressive form on home soil, capturing both the men's singles and doubles titles at the Breaking Barriers Polokwane Open, which concluded at Polokwane Tennis Club this weekend.
Hosted by Tennis South Africa (TSA) in partnership with Asociación Enrique Esteire Perla In Memoriam (AEEPIM) and the Polokwane Municipality, the international wheelchair tennis tournament brought together more than 50 athletes from South Africa and across the region for four days of international-standard competition.
Maripa once again demonstrated why he remains one of Africa's leading wheelchair tennis players, defeating Egypt's Abd Elrahman Salah 6-2, 6-1 in the men's singles final. He then teamed up with Mpho Mhlongo to secure the men's doubles title with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory over Mayenzeke Gwija and Mzwanele Thentsi.
In the women's singles competition, South Africa's Nokwanda Hlongwane claimed the title after defeating Bridget Lesedi Malepe 6-4, 6-3 in an all-South African final.
The junior events showcased the next generation of wheelchair tennis talent. Lwandiso Mchunu captured the boys' singles title with a hard-fought 7-6, 6-4 victory over Olugaho Sioga, while Latvia's Ailina Mosko continued her impressive run in Polokwane by winning the girls' singles title with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Botswana's Omphile Bothasitse.
Mchunu and Sthembiso Dladla also combined to win the boys' doubles title, highlighting the depth of emerging wheelchair tennis talent in South Africa.
The tournament formed part of Tennis South Africa's ongoing commitment to growing wheelchair tennis and creating opportunities for athletes of all abilities to compete and excel at an international level.
The tournament also delivered strong community engagement and athlete development outcomes, reinforcing Polokwane's growing reputation as a host city for international wheelchair tennis events.
Final Results
Men
Singles
Evans Maripa (RSA) bt Abd Elrahman Salah (EGY) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
Evans Maripa (RSA) / Mpho Mhlongo (RSA) bt Mayenzeke Gwija (RSA) / Mzwanele Thentsi (RSA) 6-2, 6-2
Women
Singles
Nokwanda Hlongwane (RSA) bt Bridget Lesedi Malepe (RSA) 6-4, 6-3
Juniors
Boys
Singles
Lwandiso Mchunu (RSA) bt Olugaho Sioga (RSA) 7-6, 6-4
Doubles
Lwandiso Mchunu (RSA) / Sthembiso Dladla (RSA) bt Sibusiso Manyala (RSA) / Olugaho Sioga (RSA) 6-0, 6-0
Girls
Singles
Ailina Mosko (LAT) bt Omphile Bothasitse (BOT) 6-0, 6-0