By Gary Anderson

September 9 - History maker Lucas Sithole with the US Open quads trophyLucas Sithole became the first African in history to win an International Tennis Federation (ITF) wheelchair tennis Grand Slam event after he defeated David Wagner in the final of the US Open quads, while Stephane Houdet and Aniek van Koot took the men's and women's singles titles in New York.

Sithole capped a history making year, which saw him become the first African to win an ITF Super Series event with victory at the British Open and become the first African to reach a Grand Slam final, by overcoming world number one Wagner of the United States, 3-6, 6-4 6-4.

Wagner was hoping to gain some revenge against the South African world number three, who had triumphed when the pair met in the British Open final in July and also beat the American in the round-robin phase of the US Open on Friday.

The three-time Paralympic gold medallist got off to a flying start at Flushing Meadows as two service breaks saw him take the opening set 6-3, before a see-saw second set was eventually won by Sithole, who held his serve to clinch it 6-4.

The pair were level pegging at the start of the deciding set before Sithole made the crucial breakthrough in the eighth game to open up a 5-3 lead.

The 26-year-old held his nerve to serve out the next game and write his name into the history books.

"I was confident coming into the final," said Sithole after ending Wagner's bid for a third successive US Open singles title.

"I'd like to thank the supporters and also David for sharing the experience with me on court.

"I really enjoy playing against him.

"He is a great player, one of the best in the quads."

Doubles partners Stephane Houdet (left) and Shingo Kunieda battled it out in the mens singles final in New YorkDoubles partners Stephane Houdet (left) and Shingo Kunieda battled it out in the men's singles final in New York

























Frenchman Stephane Houdet also made a bit of history of his own as a comprehensive 6-2, 6-4 victory over Japan's Shingo Kunieda saw the world number two claim his first men's singles US Open title to add to his three Australian and two French Open wins.

Revenge was also in the air in this match as both players had a score to settle from previous meetings.

World number one Kunieda lost out to Houdet earlier this year in the final of the French Open while in 2011 the man from Saint-Nazaire saw his US Open dreams shattered by the Japanese player.

The rivalry was further spiced by the fact that this was the third time this year that both players faced each other in a Grand Slam decider as Kunieda prevailed in the Australian Open back in January, and the pair have also teamed up on four occasions to win Grand Slam doubles titles, most recently at this year's French Open and Wimbledon Championships.

However, the 42-year-old Frenchman was in superb form right from the start of this one and a double break in the opening set saw him take it 6-3, before racing into a 3-0 lead in the second.

Despite a mini-comeback from the Japanese, who won the next two games, Houdet wrapped up the match by serving out for a 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Meanwhile, in the women's singles decider, Van Koot of the Netherlands and Germany's world number one Sabine Ellerbrock were each chasing a second Grand Slam of the year.

Van Koot, the world number two, defeated the German in the Australian Open final while Ellerbrock claimed the French Open title in June, beating the Dutch player in the semi-finals at Roland Garros.

Aniek van Koot clinched her third Grand Slam win with victory in the US OpenAniek van Koot clinched her third Grand Slam win with victory in the US Open













































Ellerbrock, 38, settled into her rhythm early and a break saw her open up a 3-1 advantage, eventually taking the first set 6-3.

However, a back problem forced Ellerbrock into taking an injury timeout at the start of the second, and Van Koot seized the initiative, racing into a 3-0 lead, before driving home her advantage to send the match into a deciding set.

The two rivals served up a thrilling decider, with Van Koot's momentum seeing her take the first three games before the German veteran showed her experience by staging a superb fight back to force her opponent into serving to save the match at 4-5.

The 23-year-old showed nerves of steel to hold and send the match to a tiebreak.

The woman from Winterwijk dominated the tiebreak leading 3-1 and 5-2 before sealing victory with her first match point to bring an end to the one hour and 45 minute marathon, and take her third Grand Slam crown.

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