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Van Niekerk and Commins continues SA Squash dominance

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By Adnaan Mohamed

At the V&A Waterfront’s Makers Landing, the walls echoed with familiar thuds of dominance as Alex Commins and Dewald van Niekerk once again shut out all challengers at the Growthpoint SA Nationals.

Like seasoned players who know every corner of the court, the titleholders reminded the country why they still call the shots in South African squash.

Van Niekerk, the 28-year-old ironman from SA Country Districts, carved his way into history by clinching a record fifth consecutive crown.

His 3–1 victory over 21-year-old Northerns prodigy Damian Groenewald broke KwaZulu-Natal’s Steve Coppinger’s long-standing record of four straight titles.

Groenewald, fearless and inventive, did something no South African has managed in over a year: he pried a game off Van Niekerk.

But the champion, like a wall that absorbs and redirects everything, adapted and tightened his grip on the match.

“Damian played really well and changed his game, so I had to adjust,” Van Niekerk said. “It’s an incredible feeling to win five in a row.”

On the women’s side, Cape Town’s Commins proved that retirement from the professional tour hasn’t dulled her blade.

At 31, she sliced her way to a sixth national title, taking down Eastern Province rival Hayley Ward 3–1 in a repeat of last year’s final.

Losing the second game only lit her fire. Commins reclaimed the title by dictating the rallies, forcing Ward into the back corners until the match was hers.

“Against Hayley it’s always tough,” she admitted.

“I just tried to stay calm and stick to my game plan.”

But the tournament wasn’t just about the established rulers of the court. The juniors lit up the Nationals with their own fierce rallies

In the U15 boys’ division, Makhanda’s Ashton Burger sealed the title after blitzing Boland’s Zander Smit 3–0, while Eden’s Codey Abrahams staged a thrilling comeback elsewhere to confirm Burger’s triumph.

In the girls’ U15 draw, KwaZulu-Natal’s Rylee Howells was untouchable, storming through the round-robin and polishing off her campaign with a commanding 3–0 win over Northerns’ Alyssa Arcangeli.

From record-breaking legends to hungry newcomers, the Growthpoint SA Nationals served up a feast of squash brilliance providing proof that South African squash’s rally is far from over.

Van Niekerk, Commins Keep Dreams Alive

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Adnaan Mohamed

Groenewald Brothers Shine

The Growthpoint Nationals in Cape Town served up rallies of grit and guile on Friday, with Dewald van Niekerk and Alex Commins keeping their championship bids firmly in play, while the Groenewald brothers showed that the future of South African squash is already pressing hard at the glass.

Defending champion Van Niekerk, the man who has ruled the domestic court for nearly half a decade, fended off 19-year-old Luhann Groenewald in a semifinal that was as much a passing-of-the-torch preview as it was a title bout.

The Northerns teenager swung with courage and stamina, but Van Niekerk’s control and precision were like a player who always finds the perfect length after eventually wearing his opponent down 11-3, 11-8, 11-9 in 37 lung-busting minutes.

That victory sets up a repeat final against Luhann’s elder brother Damian, who played the immaculate straight drive to sink former champ JP Brits 3-0.

Damian Groenewald Picture credit: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images

The 21-year-old held his nerve, showing patience and placement, while forcing the 34-year-old into wild, risky shots. It was the kind of disciplined squash that announces a player not just chasing the ball, but chasing greatness.

On the women’s side, Commins gave a ruthless reminder of why she once climbed to 22 in the world rankings. Playing with the sharpness of a volley kill, she dismantled Kim McDonald 11-2, 11-3, 11-3, conceding only eight points in a flawless display. For Commins, every outing is about raising the bar higher:

“You just have to find a way to get the job done. You can’t relax against anyone.” Tomorrow, she meets Hayley Ward, who justified her top seed with a commanding 3-0 victory over Teagan Russell, injecting pace and aggression at every opening.

Beyond the senior spotlight, the juniors added fresh bounce to the tournament. KZN’s top seed Rylee Howells tightened her grip on the U15 girls’ crown with back-to-back wins, while the boys’ U15 division is heading for a nail-biting finish, with all four contenders locked at one win apiece—Saturday’s final matches will decide who stands tall when the dust settles.

With Van Niekerk chasing a record fifth title, Commins hunting her sixth, and the Groenewald brothers showing the sport’s next chapter is already on court, the Growthpoint Nationals are shaping up like a rally that just keeps getting bette with each point harder, faster, and more thrilling than the last.

Friday’s results were:

Seniors

Women – Semifinals

1-Hayley Ward (EP) bt 4-Teagan Russell (Joburg Squash) 3-0 (11-3 11-6 11-5), 3-Alex Commins (WP) bt 7-Kim McDonald (Northerns) 3-0 (11-1 11-1 11-6)

Pool 5-8

Helena Hudson (Northerns) bt Lara Patrick (Northerns) 3-1 (11-4 11-13 11-2 16-14), Alexa Pienaar (SACD) bt Shelomi Truter (SACD) 3-0 (11-6 11-8 11-8), Alexa Pienaar (SACD) bt Helena Hudson (Northerns) 3-0 (11-4 11-9 11-5), Lara Patrick (Northerns) bt Shelomi Truter (SACD) 3-0 (11-3 11-9 14-12).

Men – Semifinals

1-Dewald van Niekerk (SACD) bt 4-Luhann Groenewald (Northerns) 3-0 (11-3 11-8 11-9), 2-Damian Groenewald (Northerns) bt 3-JP Brits (SACD) 3-0 (11-8 11-3 11-4).

Pool 5-8

John Anderson (Joburg Squash) bt Luke van Vuuren (SACD) 3-1 (11-5 9-11 15-13 14-12), Reuel Videler (SACD) bt Jonty Matthys (SACD) 3-2 (9-11 11-9 10-12 11-2 11-9), John Anderson (Joburg Squash) bt Jonty Matthys (SACD) 3-0 (11-9 11-1 11-6), Reuel Videler (SACD) bt Luke van Vuuren (SACD) 3-1 (10-12 11-7 11-8 11-9)

U15– Girls: Pool 1-4 – Rylee Howells (KZN) bt Jasmaine Rust (Free State) 3-0 (11-1 11-4 11-7), Genevieve Lang (WP) bt Alyssa Arcangeli (Northerns) 3-0 (11-8 11-5 11-8).

Pool 5-8 – Nhlalala Masingi (Joburg Squash) bt Mienke Stander (Boland) 3-0 (11-6 11-6 11-9), Faatima Packery (EP) bt Hanja Gildenhuys (Eden) 3-2 (11-5 11-7 10-12 10-12 11-2).

Boys– Pool 1-4 -Liam Fehrsen (EP) bt Ashton Burger (EP) 3-2 (9-11 11-4 11-7 3-11 11-9), Codey Abrahams (Eden) bt Zander Smit (Boland) 3-1 (11-3 9-11 11-8 11-4). 

Pool 5-8- Milton Posthumus (WP) bt Tiaan Goosen (Northerns) 3-1 (11-4 9-11 11-6 11-4), Jeremy John (KZN) bt George Hung (Free State) 3-0 (11-9 12-10 11-4).

McDonald’s Shakes Up Squash Nationals

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By Adnaan Mohamed

The Growthpoint SA Nationals opened with a bang at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront as seventh seed Kim McDonald stunned second seed Alexa Pienaar in straight games, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7.

McDonald, a qualified doctor working in Eswatini, played with surgical precision to cut through Pienaar’s game. Her variation and attacking intent never allowed her opponent to settle.

“We’ve had some really good matches in the past and I know Alexa is a fierce competitor,” McDonald said. “When you play her, you have to make sure your belief is high. I just had to take my chances because the front of the court can be quite dead, and I focused on mixing it up with a solid length.”

For McDonald, the victory was as unexpected as it was satisfying.

“At the moment I get some squash in over the weekends and do some trail running to keep sane, but to come here and get a win is something I will treasure,” the 29-year-old admitted.

Her next opponent is defending champion Alex Commins, who breezed past Lara Patrick in three games.

Seeds Stay Firm

Elsewhere, the tournament’s top names stayed solid. Dewald van Niekerk, chasing a record fifth consecutive title, demolished teammate Luke van Vuuren 11-2, 11-2, 11-5, while women’s top seed Hayley Ward survived some testing moments against Helena Hudson before winning 11-4, 11-5, 11-8.

Teenager Steps Up

The men’s draw also saw a breakthrough from Luhann Groenewald. The 19-year-old Northerns prodigy, twice an U19 champion, marked his senior debut with a composed 3-0 win over fifth seed Reuel Videler.

Luhann Groenewald Picture credit: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images

“That takes a bit of pressure off, and I just aim to go out and give it my best against Dewald tomorrow,” he said.

“I was happy with the way I played today, although I fell off a bit in the last game before coming back. But I’ll take that win and look forward to the next challenge.”

Junior Fireworks

The day’s most dramatic encounter unfolded in the U15 boys’ section, where Eastern Province’s Ashton Burger pulled off a miraculous comeback against Western Province’s Milton Posthumus.

Ashton Burger Picture credit: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images

Posthumus led 2-1 and had four game points in the fourth, only for Burger to rally. Then, in the decider, Posthumus stood on the brink at 10-4 up before Burger reeled off eight consecutive points for an astonishing 12-10 win.

“I just decided that I wasn’t going to give in,” Burger said. “It was about not looking too far ahead and just keeping my concentration.”

He joined EP teammate and top seed Liam Fehrsen, who cruised past Free State’s 12-year-old George Hung. In the girls’ U15s, KwaZulu-Natal’s Rylee Howells was too strong for Eden’s Hanja Gildenhuys, winning 3-0.

Opening Day Verdict

From McDonald’s clinical takedown of Pienaar, to Groenewald’s fearless senior debut, to Burger’s Houdini act in the juniors, day one served a reminder: squash at the Nationals is never scripted.

Momentum swings faster than a ball off the tin, and as the week unfolds, fans can expect more drama, more upsets, and more proof that in this game, no seed is truly safe.

Thursday’s results were:

Seniors

Women

1-Hayley Ward (EP) bt 8-Helena Hudson (Northerns) 3-0 (11-4 11-5 11-8), 7-Kim McDonald (Northerns) bt 2-Alexa Pienaar (SACD) 3-0 (12-10 11-6 11-7), 3-Alex Commins (WP) bt 6-Lara Patrick (Northerns) 3-0 (11-3 11-3 11-4), 4-Teagan Russell (Joburg Squash) bt 5-Shelomi Truter (SACD) 3-1 (11-13 11-9 11-1 11-9).

Men

1-Dewald van Niekerk (SACD) bt 3-0 (11-2 11-2 11-5), 8-Luke van Vuuren (SACD), 2-Damian Groenewald (Northerns) bt 7-Jonty Matthys (SACD) 3-0 (11-3 12-10 11-3), 3-JP Brits (SACD) bt 6-John Anderson (Joburg Squash) 3-1 (11-9 6-11 11-8 11-3), 4-Luhann Groenewald (Northerns) bt 5-Reuel Videler (SACD) 3-0 (11-6 11-5 11-9).

U15

Girls

1-Rylee Howells (KZN) bt 8-Hanja Gildenhuys (Eden) 3-0 (11-6 11-1 11-2), 2-Alyssa Arcangeli (Northerns) bt 7-Mienke Stander (Boland) 3-1 (11-0 11-9 8-11 11-4), 3-Genevieve Lang (WP) bt 6-Nhlalala Masingi (Joburg Squash) 3-0 (11-2 11-3 11-2), 4-Jasmaine Rust (Free State) bt Fatima Packery (EP) 3-0 (1-5 11-1 11-8).

Boys

1-Liam Fehrsen (EP) bt George Hung (Free State) 3-0 (11-4 11-3 11-3), 2-Codey Abrahams (Eden) bt 7-Jeremy John (KZN) 3-1 (11-9 7-11 11-3 13-11), 6-Zander Smit (Boland) bt 3-Tiaan Goosen (Northerns) 3-0 (11-1 11-9 11-3), 5-Ashton Burger (EP) bt 4-Milton Posthumus (WP) 3-2 (11-4 9-11 6-11 11-9 12-10).