Dewald van Niekerk(pictured above) is ready to turn the glass court into his personal playground as he hunts a sixth straightGrowthpoint 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.
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.
