South African wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane has closed her 2026 French Open campaign, bowing out of the women’s wheelchair singles at the quarterfinal stage after a hard-fought defeat to French home favourite Ksenia Chasteau at Roland Garros in Paris, France, on Thursday, 4 June 2026.
Montjane went down 6-4, 6-4 to Chasteau on Court 14, where the 20-year-old Frenchwoman, roared on by a vocal home crowd, advanced to the women’s wheelchair singles semifinals. Chasteau went on to reach the final, while Montjane’s run in the singles draw ended among the last eight.
“I can mourn the loss and still believe in a comeback. We are hard pressed… but not crushed.”
South African Wheelchair Tennis Star, Kgothatso Montjane
The South African had reached the quarterfinals in determined fashion, overcoming French wildcard Charlotte Fairbank 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round, recovering from a slow start to take command of the contest.
Montjane had earlier featured in the women’s wheelchair doubles, partnering Guo Hanyu of China in a new combination. The pair went down 6-4, 6-3 to the second-seeded Chinese team of Li Xiaohui and Wang Ziying on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, on what was Montjane’s 40th birthday.
The doubles crown Montjane had shared with Japan’s Yui Kamiji in 2025 stayed with Kamiji this year, the Japanese star claiming a sixth Roland Garros doubles title on Friday, 5 June 2026, partnering Zhu Zhenzhen of China. In the singles, former champion Diede de Groot of the Netherlands denied Chasteau a home title, winning the final 6-1, 6-0 on Saturday, 6 June 2026.
Montjane remains one of South Africa’s most decorated athletes. She is a multiple Grand Slam doubles champion, having lifted French Open titles in 2023 and 2025, the US Open in 2023, and Wimbledon in 2024. She also reached the Wimbledon singles final in 2021 and has been ranked as high as world No. 4 in singles.
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Though the Paris campaign ends without a title this year, Montjane’s enduring presence among the world’s elite continues to inspire, as she carries South African wheelchair tennis forward on the sport’s biggest stages.
Main Photo Caption: South African wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane has closed her 2026 French Open campaign, bowing out of the women’s wheelchair singles at the quarterfinal stage after a hard-fought defeat to French home favourite Ksenia Chasteau at Roland Garros in Paris, France, on Thursday, 4 June 2026. Photo: @bnico.photos
