Being a trailblazer in women's wheelchair tennis has become second nature to Kgothatso Montjane of TuksTennis, who is part of the Tennis South Africa (TSA) high-performance wheelchair programme based at TuksSport.

Since 2013, there has hardly been a year in which her name and first had not appeared in media articles. In 2013, she became the first African player to compete in a Grand Slam. By the end of 2018, she had stamped her mark as the first African wheelchair tennis player to compete in all four Majors in a calendar year.

She seemingly is getting better with age. In July, the 35-year-old set another first when she contested the Wimbledon final. She was also in action the women's doubles final at Wimbledon. Playing two finals at a Grand Slam event is another first for a player from Africa. 
 
Come the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Japan, Montjane aims to set another first. No female player from Africa has yet contested a final. It is the fourth time Montjane will represent South Africa at the Games. She made her debut in 2008 in Beijing. 

According to Montjane, the Paralympic Games is possibly the most challenging event. 

"When I play at Wimbledon or any other Grand Slam event, it is mostly about my honour. The Paralympic Games is totally different. Every time I take to the court, I play to make the whole of South Africa proud. 

"But I am not going to allow the pressure to get to me. Pressure is part of the game. On a good day, I would like to believe that I got the ability to pull myself together and take on any other player. Playing the Wimbledon final had been a good confidence booster," said the sixth best-ranked player.

The Tuks based wheelchair tennis player views her versatility as her best quality. 

"I can play from the baseline, 'attack the net', have a good service and read the game.  So I can adapt to whatever it takes during any game."

According to Montjane, she also never lacks motivation. 

"From the moment I fell in love with the game, I wanted to see where this journey is going to take me. That is what makes me get up in the mornings and why I push myself to the limit when training. After every tournament, it is as if I am more motivated to play better." 

Montjane was born with a congenital disorder that led to the amputation of her left leg at 12. It also affected her hands. She will be forever grateful that her parents, Albert and Margaret, treated her as any normal child. 

"They never limited me. I was also not allowed to feel sorrow for myself."

She still remembers how she had to fetch drinking water, help grow food and wash dishes while growing up in a village, Ga-Mphahlele, in Limpopo. 

Montjane only started playing tennis when she was 19 and not by choice. According to her, a teacher had forced her to start playing. Once she got the hang of the sport, it changed her life.