World number one Wagner suffered his first career loss to Sithole 12 months ago but was determined not to allow a repeat performance and he duly obliged by powering his way to a 6-2,6-3 win at Ellis Park Stadium.

Wagner secured breaks in the first and fifth games of the opening set, while Sithole's only break came in the eighth game of the second but was too little too late to disrupt the American.

"I knew Lucas would have a lot of support out there, and it's phenomenal to see that kind of support in wheelchair tennis," said Wagner, who also beat Sithole in the final of this year's Australian Open.

"It's good that they could see him playing at his best at home.

"But for me, this is great because I lost in the semi-finals here last year to Lucas and I know Lucas will never give up in a match so I can't let down my guard."

Stephane Houdet of France retained his men's singles Airports Company South Africa SA Open title today ©Getty Images



In a rematch of last year's men's singles final in Johannesburg, Frenchman Stephane Houdet took on world number three Gordon Reid of Britain, who won his maiden International Tennis Federation (ITF) Super Series singles title at the Sydney International Open in January.

But the Scot was unable to put back-to-back Super Series wins together as world number two Houdet emerged with a relatively comfortable 6-3,6-3 victory.

The French veteran made the crucial break in the fifth game of the first set before winning the final two games to take the opener and raced into a 4-1 lead in the second.

Reid managed to pull a break back but that only temporarily disrupted Houdet who broke straight back and went on to make it two-wins-from-two in Johannesburg.

"I played smart," Houdet said.

"I won almost all of the break points and just lost my serve once.

"I gave him tough balls to play.

"The level of the game could've been better.

"The altitude is tough when it comes to controlling the ball, and I think we both made too many mistakes."

Dutchwoman Aniek van Koot emerged victorious after a tough three-set battle with Germany's Sabine Ellerbrock ©Getty Images



The women's singles decider was an altogether closer affair as current world number one Sabine Ellerbrock of Germany and the Netherland's Aniek van Koot played out a tough three-setter.

World number four and reigning ITF world champion van Koot secured the only break of the first set to take it 6-4 but Ellerbrock hit back straight away at the start of the second to secure the crucial break and go on to level the match at one set apiece.

The decider saw both players hold serve early on before the Dutchwoman made the all important breakthrough in the eighth game and went on to take the final two games and the title.

"This is quite special," van Koot said.

"I didn't expect this.

"I was playing such bad tennis at the beginning of the week that I thought I'd be out by the semis and go to the lion park on the weekend.

"I'm very happy."

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