Donald Ramphadi and Gregory Slade have many reasons to keep smiling. Both have enjoyed a whirlwind month.
Ramphadi got married, Slade has had a great grass season, and the pair have had a dream run as the underdogs.
On Saturday, the underdogs were runners-up in the Wimbledon Quad Wheelchair final.
Incredibly, this was their very first grass court tournament, and their second ever tournament as a pair.
All the more special for Slade as Wimbledon is his home slam – the quad doubles world No 10 lives nearby.
Up against the favourites
The South African-British pair were up against the favourites – the established, successful pair of Guy Sasson of Israel and Niels Vink of the Netherlands, who played well when they needed to on the key points, winning in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2.
But the score is no reflection of the quality of tennis from the South African and British duo.
Fans were entertained on Wimbledon’s show court on a scorchingly hot afternoon, with some close games. The pair had opportunities – game points in the first four games of the match.
The scene was set: Wimbledon’s Court 3, with the iconic church steeple backdrop on a scorchingly hot Saturday afternoon.
Ramphadi-Slade entertained fans with their audible exchanges, and visible camaraderie.
Despite the score, the two were jovial, and simply soaking up the experience of being in a Wimbledon final.
Adorably, the two have been crediting each other this week for their humour and support to each other. Their chemistry is palpable.
In a change to Wimbledon’s finals weekend scheduling, this year, this match, together with the doubles and juniors’ finals, were scheduled before, rather than after the ladies’ singles final.
This is a positive change, raising the profile of wheelchair tennis by allowing tennis fans with tickets to the ladies’ singles final as well as those with grounds passes, to come and watch.
‘Upbeat and grateful’
Amisha Savani spoke to Ramphadi and Slade after the match.
The pair were upbeat and grateful for the experience, noting their progress, despite the odds.
Slade reflected on the match, saying “Really pleased as I said, with the week Donald and I have had. Obviously, we do not have a lot of experience playing together, we had no experience before this playing on grass, so I think to come here as very much a new pairing and make a slam final at Wimbledon has been an incredible experience, and it’s an incredible achievement.”
Crediting their chemistry and banter, Savani asked the pair how they planned to revive this chemistry between tournaments.
Looking at Slade, the Quad Doubles ranked world No 7 Ramphadi laughed, saying: “Greg is a funny guy,” and spoke of Slade’s sense of humour, as well as his ability to uplift them when down in a match.
Ramphadi was happy with their performance.
“We played our best and we did well”.
The pair are scheduled to pair-up again next week at the Swiss Open.
If Wimbledon 2025 is a taster of what is to come from the Ramphadi-Slade pairing, we can expect only good things.
Amisha Savani is reporting exclusively for The South African from the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon.
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