Having to be someone who was born with a disability,
I think that's something that has strongly been in me
from a young age, where you are born into a world
where people have a perception of you, people
discriminate, they don't believe in you. You have to
learn to believe in yourself.
When I started wheelchair tennis, I had to figure it out.
How to play, how to just get the ball over the net.
I had to just stay in, explore and work hard just to get in
to the Paralympics, which is quite an honour and a privilege
to be able to represent your country.
In 2017, we just lost our funding. It came to a point where
they just said 'guys, you need to start looking for your
own funding because things are not looking great'.
I was getting worried with my ranking and someone
pulled through for me, they gave me funding and
that carried me into Roland Garros.
When I was in Paris I got an email saying 'you've got
a wildcard into Wimbledon.' Then I was thinking
'Yes!'
I just had to get to Wimbledon, that was important.
So I made the decision and I just went with it.
I didn't know what to expect though.
I just think being at Wimbledon by myself gave me the courage
to just face the world against all odds.
'Game and second set. What a set of tennis that is.'
'KG Montjane responding.'
It was just the best decision I could have ever taken.
I grew up in the rural part of South Africa.
The reason I ended up going to a special school
was simply because in the rural areas where I come from,
the school was too far and I was supposed to walk there
and with my disability, it was concerning for my
parents for me to walk such a long distance.
So they opted for a special school, a better
environment because it was more accessible.
I was very close to my family, so it was hard for me.
There's something in me that meant I always
find the courage to wake up every day, go to
play tennis, because when I'm on court it really
keeps me sane, you know?
I think along the way, whatever she has learnt
she has really given back to the young ones.
Kids out here just adore her.
Being in a wheelchair is not something that I ever
thought I would be in. At first it was difficult
but when I went to a special school, I found
my other talents.
They say you should not judge a book by its cover.
I love his stroke because when I started, I didn't even
have a forehand and he's just killing it.
I have been playing wheelchair tennis for a year
and it's just nice to have someone that you
are looking up to. I even learnt some skills
that I didn't know about.
Don't let your struggles define you, that's one of the
best bits of advice that I've ever had.
Never feel sorry for yourself because we all have
abilities and we all have different ways to display
those abilities. So it's just a matter of believing in yourself
and putting yourself out to the world.
The most important thing is that he chose sport.
If you have courage you go in and you do stuff that
you normally would not do. You surprise yourself.
Other kids will have doubts if they can do it
or not, so it's just so encouraging to a young person like
him not giving up but willing to try new sports.
When you don't have courage, you don't go and hit with
a person who has played four Grand Slams.
He's just looking at KG like any other player,
hitting the balls back and forth and for me,
I think that is courage right there for me.
Today sport unites us as South Africans.
We are united because of sport and
most of the times that we come together as a
country is because we'll be celebrating a victory.
But you know, having a generation like Khanya's
generation right now is that they are growing up
in this South Africa that is so acceptable
in the world. What has always been our best quality
as a country has brought us together.