Tennis South Africa (TSA) stated on Saturday that the legacy of the country’s former president Nelson Mandela will continue to be the source of inspiration and courage to the people.
“Humanity has lost a tireless champion of peace, liberty and equality,” TSA president Bongani Zondi said in a statement.
“In his decades spent fighting for freedom and equality, Mandela inspired and challenged the world to stand up for others.
“Because of him, South Africa is today one of the world’s leading democracies,” said Zondi.
Zondi said that Mandela is an avid supporter of tennis.
“He personally called our leading tennis professionals on the eve of Grand Slams or major competitions to wish them well.”
“He also took time from his busy schedule to meet with our Davis and Fed Cup teams.”
A Nelson Mandela Tribute was staged before by TSA which was attended by a number of marquee players including Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Goran Ivanisevic, Todd Martin, Leander Paes, Richard Krajicek, MaliVai Washington, Wayne Ferreira, Yannick Noah, Amanda Coetzer and Iva Majoli.
Mandela died on Thursday in Johannesburg by the age of 95. He will be buried in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, which is his hometown next Sunday.
