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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).

Battle for Squash Supremacy at SA Senior Nationals

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By Adnaan Mohamed

The glass courts at the V&A Waterfront are about to become a pressure cooker. From August 28 to 30, the Growthpoint Senior Nationals will see South Africa’s finest squash players chase silverware, sweat, and legacy in one of the sport’s most fiercely contested showdowns.

At the heart of the drama is defending champion Dewald van Niekerk. The Gqeberha-born powerhouse has turned this championship into his personal fortress.

Since 2021, no domestic player has managed to prise the trophy from his grasp. Now, at 28, he’s chasing a fifth consecutive title, a feat that would shatter Steve Coppinger’s streak of four and cement his place in squash history.

On paper, Van Niekerk is the immovable wall. In practice, he refuses to treat this as a forgone conclusion.

“Being the top seed doesn’t stop me from preparing thoroughly,” he said.

“This event is hugely important to me, and I always mark it as a priority on my calendar.”

That relentless reset has been his secret weapon. But history rarely comes easy, and his rivals are ready to rattle the fortress walls.

Chief among them is Northerns’ Damian Groenewald, the second seed who dragged Van Niekerk into a bruising four-game final last year.

“I have worked on my game in all aspects…mental, physical, tactical and technical,” said the SA Country Districts player, ranked 68 in the world.

If Van Niekerk is granite, Groenewald is the pickaxe.

“And I have developed a good level of confidence in my abilities.”

Add 2019 champion JP Brits to the mix, and the men’s draw looks primed for fireworks.

If Van Niekerk rules the men’s game, then the women’s side has its own queen.

Cape Town’s Alex Commins, once ranked 22 in the world, is chasing her sixth Growthpoint crown. Her first came a decade ago in 2015, her latest in 2024, and she shows no sign of slowing.

Unlike Van Niekerk, Commins competes with a different fire these days. Retirement from the PSA Tour has stripped away the grind while sharpening her joy.

“Fortunately, I haven’t lost that competitive edge, but I feel more relaxed since I retired,” she said.

“There is less pressure on training for matches and I am playing now because I enjoy it, so that’s been a really refreshing shift. I am still training hard and always on the go, but I do it now because I enjoy what I am doing and where I am at.”

It may sound like a softer approach, but opponents know better. Her chief challenger, Eastern Province’s Hayley Ward, ranked No 75 in the world, remains the one player who can push her closest. Last year’s 3–1 final showed Ward’s grit, but until she topples Commins, she’s still chasing shadows.

Their collision course is set once again, with Ward opening against Northerns’ Helena Hudson and Commins starting her campaign against Lara Patrick.

Yet the Nationals aren’t only about the heavyweights. Alongside the senior battles, South Africa’s rising stars will showcase their flair in the U15 section, where future champions take their first swings at glory.

Names like Milton Posthumus (WP), Cody Abrahams (Eden) and Rylee Howells (KZN) may one day echo in the same breath as Van Niekerk and Commins.

For Squash South Africa, the event remains a showpiece.

“Squash SA is looking forward to yet another successful tournament and we wish all participants the best,” said national manager Jennifer Sawyer.

Three days. Two reigning champions on the brink of history. A field of hungry rivals chasing them down. And a venue as iconic as the V&A Waterfront, where glass walls will turn into mirrors of ambition and pressure.

By the time the last ball dies in the nick, the question will be whether Van Niekerk and Commins extend their rule , or if a challenger finally smashes through.

Players to Watch

Dewald van Niekerk (SACD) – Four-time champ chasing history. The man to beat.
Damian Groenewald (Northerns) – Last year’s runner-up; fearless and fitter than ever.
JP Brits (SACD) – 2019 champion; knows what it takes to go all the way.
Alex Commins (WP) – Five-time women’s winner; relaxed but ruthless.
Hayley Ward (EP) – World No 75; Commins’ toughest rival.
Rylee Howells (KZN) – U15 top seed; the future star to keep an eye on.

The draws for Thursday, 28 August are:

Seniors:

Women: 12.00: 4-Teagan Russell (Joburg Squash) v 5-Shelomi Truter (SACD), 1pm 3-Alex Commins (WP) v 6-Lara Patrick (Northerns), 2pm: 2-Alexa Pienaar (SACD) v 7-Kim McDonald (Northerns), 3pm: 1-Hayley Ward (EP) v 8-Helena Hudson (Northerns).

Men: 12.30: 4-Luhann Groenewald (Northerns) v 5-Reuel Videler (SACD), 1.30pm: 3-JP Brits (SACD) v 6-John Anderson (Joburg Squash), 2.30pm: 2-Damian Groenewald (Northerns) v 7-Jonty Matthys (SACD), 3.30pm: 1-Dewald van Niekerk (SACD) v 8-Luke van Vuuren (SACD).

Juniors: U15

Girls: 8am: 1-Rylee Howells (KZN) v 8-Hanja Gildenhuys (Eden), 9am: 2-Alyssa Arcangeli (Northerns) v 7-Mienke Stander (Boland), 10am: 3-Genevieve Lang (WP) v 6-Nhlalala Masingi (Joburg Squash), 11am: 4-Jasmaine Rust (Free State) v 5-Faatima Packery (EP).

Boys: 8.30: 1-Liam Fehrsen (EP) v 8-Georg Hung (Free State), 9.30: 2-Cody Abrahams (Eden) v 7-Jeremy John (KZN), 10.30: 3-Tiaan Goosen (Northerns) v 6-Zander Smit (Boland), 11.30: 4-Milton Posthumus (WP) v 5-Ashton Burger (EP).

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