(Tennis) The star of Lucas Sithole continues to rise and shine after he once again picked up another award last week, the Discovery Peak Performance moment of the year award at Sport Industry awards held at the Sandton Convention Centre. The wheelchair tennis ace had a glorious spell in 2013 becoming the first African to win a US Open title of any kind when he won the quads singles and earlier he had also snatched the British Open. Sithole says his performances from last year continue to inspire him…

Sithole who won the SA Sportsman of the year with a disability last year and was also nominated for the Sportstar of the year but lost to Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs captain Itumeleng Khune has started 2014 on a positive note. He lost in the final of the Australian Open quad singles to top seed and world number David Wagner 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 the same man he beat to win the US Open. Sithole says this year could even see him even achieving bigger things…

When coming off a good year like Sithole had last year it’s always difficult to maintain the standard but the KwaZulu-Natal born lad has got a plan already…

Competition is also starting to be tough for Sithole, his rivalry with the American Wagner is getting intense too but the world’s number two has found a way of handling it…

Sithole is now focusing on preparing for the SA Open that’s taking place in Johannesburg at the end of next month, he’s also aware of the importance of participating in these local events to also inspire other aspiring wheelchair tennis players…Journalist: Velile Mbuli