Top Seeds Progress in Growthpoint Squash Nationals on First Day

Cape Town – The competition was fierce right from the start, showcasing exceptional squash talent and fierce rivalries. Ultimately, the top players showcased their skills on the first day of the Growthpoint SA Senior Nationals squash championships in Cape Town on Thursday.

Competing on the stunning all-glass court at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront, top seeds Hayley Ward (Eastern Province) and Dewald van Niekerk (SA Country Districts) progressed to the semifinals set for Friday.

The day was marked by several nail-biting matches, featuring the returns of former champions Lizelle Muller (2021) and Milnay Louw (2017 and 2019), while Van Niekerk kicked off his campaign for a remarkable sixth consecutive Growthpoint men’s title.

Although initial nerves were palpable, the players began to find their groove, especially in the opening match where Muller, the elder sister of Van Niekerk, made a robust comeback against Lara Patrick.

The sixth seed from Northerns demonstrated her prowess in capitalizing on any loose balls, putting together impressive plays that forced her higher-seeded opponent into a defensive position, ultimately taking the first game 12-10.

Muller’s extensive experience, however, soon proved to be a crucial asset.

From the second game onward, she systematically improved her performance, dominating the court’s center and taking advantage of her opponent’s errors, securing an assured 3-1 victory.

After the match, the mother of four expressed her joy at being back at the Growthpoint Nationals, having not participated since 2022.

“It’s always a joy to return to the Growthpoint Nationals – I’ve genuinely missed it over the past few years, and it feels great to be back,” Muller remarked.

“I didn’t train much last year, but I managed to get back into the swing of things despite my family commitments, and I truly enjoyed the Growthpoint Jarvis-Kaplan interprovincial tournament last month in Mossel Bay.”

Despite her experience, Muller confessed she felt some butterflies before stepping onto the court.

“Playing the first match is always nerve-wracking, and Lara played very well and took her shots, so I’m just relieved I could come back to win 3-1. I hope to ease my nerves by tomorrow.”

Muller is prepared to face No. 2 seed Helena Hudson in the semifinals on Friday, after Hudson’s 3-0 win over Keschia Schlebusch (SACD).

In another tightly contested match, fourth seed Alexa Pienaar (SACD) pulled off impressive comebacks against WP’s fifth seed Louw, recovering from deficits of 10-4 and 10-8 in the first two games to establish a 2-0 lead.

While Louw made a strong effort to come back, Pienaar ultimately finished the match in four games, even after missing three match points.

In the men’s division, young third seed Luhann Groenewald (Northerns) set up a semifinal clash with his elder brother Damian after overcoming a formidable challenge from 2019 champion JP Brits.

The seasoned tournament player utilized his wealth of experience and aggressive play, quickly taking the first game 11-4 with a series of winners.

However, the 20-year-old Groenewald, known for his unusual double-handed style, showcased remarkable resilience.

His time at Drexel University in the United States has further enhanced his ability to handle tough situations.

“It was a very challenging match, as JP is my coach and an exceptionally talented player,” Groenewald stated.

“He started out excellently, playing at a brisk pace and playing the ball short.

“But my brother told me to consistently push the ball past him and stay strong, which I was able to do in the end, and I’m thrilled to advance to the next round.”

Meanwhile, in the girls’ U15 Growthpoint Nationals taking place concurrently, Western Province’s seventh seed Aakiefah Taliep caused an upset by defeating second seed Kimeya Moonisami from KwaZulu-Natal after dropping the first game.

Moonisami appeared dominant in the initial game, allowing only three points, but Taliep retaliated strongly, securing the next three games for a hard-earned four-game victory.

This was just one among many fiercely contested matches in the girls’ category.

Third seed Simi Shwababa (Border) faced a tough battle from Eastern Province’s Janel Hall before clinching a narrow 11-9 victory in the fifth game, while No. 4 seed Mia Bakkes (Northerns) had to rally back from 2-0 down against Western Province’s fifth seed Jenna-Leith Wyllie to secure a close win in the deciding game 12-10.

Results from Thursday include:

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),

Seniors: 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).

U15: 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).

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