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Sibling rivalry in semifinal of SA Senior Squash Nationals

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, News, SquashLeave a Comment on Sibling rivalry in semifinal of SA Senior Squash Nationals
By Adnaan Mohamed

Family ties will be parked at the door when brothers Damian and Luhann Groenewald face each other in an intriguing all-Northerns semifinal at the Growthpoint SA Senior Squash Nationals at Makers Landing in Cape Town on Friday.

The Groenewald brothers both powered through Thursday’s opening day to set up a sibling showdown on the glass court at the V&A Waterfront, guaranteeing the family a finalist regardless of the outcome.

Second seed Damian was clinical in dispatching fellow Northerns player Judah Phillips 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-6), while third seed Luhann had to dig considerably deeper against experienced 2019 champion JP Brits.

Brits, who also coaches the 20-year-old, came out firing and swept through the opening game 11-4. Luhann then changed gears, showing remarkable composure and resilience to take the next three games 11-3, 11-4, 11-9.

“It was a very tough match because JP is my coach and a very experienced player,” Luhann said.

“The first game he played really well at a high pace and took the ball short. My brother just told me to get the ball past him and stay tough, which I managed to do in the end, and I’m very happy to get through to the next round.”

That next round now carries an entirely different dynamic.

Damian knows his younger brother’s game intimately, while Luhann will have to find a way past an opponent who knows his strengths, weaknesses and habits almost as well as he does himself.

The Groenewald name is therefore guaranteed to appear in Saturday’s final. The only question is which brother will carry it there.

At the top of the men’s draw, defending champion Dewald van Niekerk continued his pursuit of an unprecedented sixth consecutive national title with a commanding 3-0 victory over Reuel Videler.

John Anderson completed the men’s semifinal line-up with a 3-0 win over Dean Venter.

In the women’s draw, top seed Hayley Ward advanced with a 3-0 victory over Kim McDonald, while former champion Lizelle Muller marked her return to the Nationals with a gritty 3-1 win over Lara Patrick.

SA Country Districts player Lizelle Muller plays a backhand during her match against Lara Patrick (Northerns) on the opening day of the Growthpoint SA Senior Nationals squash championships at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Thursday. Muller won 3-1. Picture credits: Grant Pitcher/ Gallo Images  

Muller, competing at the tournament for the first time since 2022, recovered from losing the opening game 12-10 before taking control of the match.

She faces second seed Helena Hudson in Friday’s semifinal after Hudson defeated Keschia Schlebusch 3-0.

Alexa Pienaar also booked her place in the last four after producing a remarkable comeback against former champion Milnay Louw to win 3-1.

Yet with Van Niekerk chasing history and Ward leading the women’s field, Friday’s headline act belongs to the Groenewald brothers.

One court. Two brothers. One place in the final.

In the girls’ U15 Growthpoint Nationals, being played simultaneously, Western Province’s seventh seed Aakiefah Taliep produced the upset of the day when she recovered from losing the opening game to defeat second seed Kimeya Moonisami of KwaZulu-Natal.

Western Province’s Aakiefah Taliep leaps to play a volley during her match against KwaZulu-Natal’s Kiyema Moonisami on the opening day of the Growthpoint SA U15 Nationals girls’ squash championships at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Thursday. Taliep won 3-1. Picture credits: Grant Pitcher/ Gallo Images 

Moonisami appeared comfortably in control in the first game, conceding just three points, but Taliep responded strongly to take charge of the next three and secure a hard-earned four-game victory.

It was one of several fiercely contested matches in the girls’ section.

Third seed Simi Shwababa (Border) was pushed all the way by Eastern Province’s Janel Hall before prevailing 11-9 in the fifth, while No 4 seed Mia Bakkes (Northerns) had to recover from 2-0 down against Western Province fifth seed Jenna-Leith Wyllie before winning the deciding game 12-10.

Thursday’s results were:

Seniors

Women

1-Hayley Ward (EP) bt 8-Kim McDonald (WP) 3-0 (11-9 11-8 11-7), 2-Helena Hudson (Northerns) bt 7-Keschia Schlebusch (SA Country Districts) 3-0 (11-7 11-7 12-10), 3-Lizelle Muller (SA Country Districts) bt 6-Lara Patrick (Northerns) 3-1 (10-12 11-2 11-7 11-4), 4-Alexa Pienaar (SA Country Districts) bt 5-Milnay Louw (WP) 3-1 (12-10 12-10 7-11 11-9),

Men

1-Dewald van Niekerk (SA Country Districts) bt 8-Reuel Videler (SA Country Districts) 3-0 (11-6 11-9 11-3), 2-Damian Groenewald (Northerns) bt 7-Judah Phillips (Northerns) 3-0 (11-6 11-7 11-6), 3-Luhann Groenewald (Northerns) bt 6-JP Brits (SA Country Districts) 3-1 (4-11 11-3 11-4 11-9), 4-John Anderson (Joburg Squash) bt 5-Dean Venter (EP) 3-0 (11-7 11-4 11-4), 

U15

Girls qualifying round

1-Chanel Leppan (Northerns) bt 8-Kaitlin Saayman (Free State) 3-0 (11-5 11-6 11-2), 4-Mia Bakkes (Northerns) bt 5-Jenna-Leigh Wyllie (WP) 3-2 (9-11 9-11 11-9 11-3 12-10), 3-Simi Shwababa (Border) bt 6-Janel Hall (EP) 3-2 (13-11 6-11 9-11 11-9 11-9), 7-Aakiefah Taliep (WP) bt 2-Kimeya Moonisami (KZN) 3-1 (3-11 11-9 11-4 11-8).  

Boys qualifying round

1-Ponatshego Molefe (Joburg Squash) bt 8-Emile Erasmus (Northerns) 3-1 (11-6 11-4 6-11 11-6), 4-Zander Smit (Boland) bt 5-George Hung (Free State) 3-2 (11-3 11-13 11-0 7-11 11-5), 3-Zayd Badroodien (WP) bt 6-Keeran Morrison (EP) 3-0 (11-6 11-9 11-5), 2-Rupert Good (WP) bt 7-Phethahatso Motsoeneng (Limpopo) 3-0 (11-4 11-8 11-4)

Dewald van Niekerk eyes sixth straight SA Squash Crown

Adnaan MohamedNews, SquashLeave a Comment on Dewald van Niekerk eyes sixth straight SA Squash Crown
By Adnaan Mohamed

Dewald van Niekerk (pictured above) is ready to turn the glass court into his personal playground as he hunts a sixth straight Growthpoint SA Senior Nationals crown at Makers Landing from August 20 to 22 at the V& A Waterfront in Cape Town.

The SA Country Districts star has been the man to beat since Rodney Durbach ended his run in 2020. Van Niekerk answered that defeat by winning his first national title in 2021 and has been swinging his racquet like a wrecking ball ever since.

Last year, he smashed through Steve Coppinger’s record of four consecutive titles, set between 2010 and 2013.

Now history is knocking again.

Standing in his way are the Groenewald brothers, Damian and Luhann, seeded second and third respectively.

Damian has already shown Van Niekerk can be pushed to the edge. He took the champion to five games at July’s Growthpoint Jarvis-Kaplan interprovincial tournament and will open against fellow Northerns player Judah Phillips.

Luhann, one of South Africa’s brightest young squash prospects, faces a baptism of fire against 2019 champion JP Brits.

Fourth seed John Anderson meets Eastern Province’s Dean Venter.

The women’s draw has its own tasty subplot.

Six-time champion and defending champion Alex Commins is absent, leaving Eastern Province ace Hayley Ward with the No 1 seeding.

Hayley Ward (EP) heads the women’s field for the Growthpoint SA Senior Nationals squash championships to be played at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront from August 20 22. Picture credits: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images  

Northerns second seed Helena Hudson faces Keschia Schlebusch, while third seed and 2021 champion Lizelle Muller, Van Niekerk’s sister, takes on Lara Patrick.

Ward has finished runner-up for the past two years and will be desperate to turn silver into gold. Her first hurdle is Western Province’s Kim McDonald.

Fourth seed Alexa Pienaar faces former champion Milnay Louw in a mouth-watering opener.

Pienaar is a former University Sport SA champion, while Louw lifted the national crown in 2017 and 2019.

With reputations, records and bragging rights on the line, the all-glass court at the V&A Waterfront is set for three days of high-octane squash.

Growthpoint Properties Group CEO Estienne de Klerk said the tournament showcases the depth of South African talent.

“The Growthpoint SA Senior National Squash Championships brings together the very best of South African squash, from established champions to the next generation, showcasing the depth of talent in South African in this sport,” he said.

“Growthpoint is proud to provide Space to Thrive by supporting a championship that gives these athletes a national stage on which to compete at their best.”

City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said the tournament had become an important part of the sporting calendar.

“The City of Cape Town is proud to continue its support for the Growthpoint SA Squash Nationals in 2026,” Smith said.

“The championships have become an important platform for raising the profile of squash while creating opportunities to develop the country’s most talented athletes.”

V&A Waterfront head of public relations Donald Kau said: “The Growthpoint SA Nationals tournament continues to bring incredible energy to our neighbourhood while showcasing the V&A Waterfront as a destination for world-class experiences.”

The U15 Nationals will also take place, giving the next generation their own taste of the national spotlight.

For Van Niekerk, the mission is brutally simple: win again.

Six titles are within reach. The squash ball is in his court.

Battle for Squash Supremacy at SA Senior Nationals

Adnaan MohamedNewsLeave a Comment on Battle for Squash Supremacy at SA Senior Nationals

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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