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Lucas Sithole claims first Australian Open title

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Lucas Sithole at the Australian Open. Picture: Pat Scala/Getty Images
Lucas Sithole at the Australian Open. Picture: Pat Scala/Getty Images

Lucas Sithole and American David Wagner were crowned men’s quad wheelchair doubles champions at the Australian Open in Melbourne this morning. 

They defeated Andrew Lapthorne and Dylan Alcott 6-1 6-3 in just under an hour as Sithole claimed his first Grand Slam doubles title. 

Sithole, who was runner-up in the doubles competition last year, said he enjoyed the match and was over the moon with the doubles victory. 

“I am extremely excited for taking the doubles title and again winning against Andy Lapthorne today,” he said, referencing his 2-6 6-1 6-0 singles victory against Lapthorne earlier in the day. 

The world number 3 will now focus on the singles quad wheelchair tournament and will look to add that crown to his impressive showing Down Under. 

In the ladies wheelchair section, Kgothatso Montjane put up a valiant fight yesterday against Aniek van Koot from the Netherlands but lost 7-6 7-5. 

Montjane suffered another loss in doubles competition after she joined forces with German partner Sabine Ellerbrock and went down 6-4 7-5 against second seeds Marjolein Buis and Yui Kamiji in the first round.

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