Damian Emerges Victorious Over Brother Groenewald in Squash Growthpoint Nationals
Cape Town – In an intense clash between the brothers, second seed Damian Groenewald narrowly defeated his younger brother Luhann to secure his third consecutive final appearance at the Growthpoint SA Nationals Senior squash championships in Cape Town on Friday.
Competing on the all-glass court at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront, the 22-year-old Damian emerged victorious against his 20-year-old brother in a grueling five-game match.
In Saturday’s final, he will once again meet Dewald van Niekerk, who has bested him in the last two finals. Van Niekerk advanced toward his sixth straight title with a commanding 3-0 victory over fourth seed John Anderson in the semifinals.
In the women’s championship, top seed Hayley Ward from Eastern Province advanced to her third consecutive final, where she will face fellow Gqeberha player Lizelle Muller, representing the SA Country Districts.
Meanwhile, Damian expressed a preference to avoid playing against his younger brother.
“He moves so swiftly around the court and retrieves countless balls, making every match a tough battle. Honestly, I’d rather not compete against him in tournaments since it’s challenging to play against a sibling,” Damian said.
“However, if we both participate in the same events, it’s something you have to accept.”
The match had its ups and downs, but ultimately, Damian took charge in the fifth game after Luhann had slipped and appeared to twist his ankle, which impacted his mobility somewhat.
Regardless, Luhann put forth a fantastic effort before yielding the fifth game 11-5.
Ward, who has faced losses to Alex Commins (formerly Fuller) in the previous two years, is aiming for her inaugural title and made it to the final with a 3-0 victory over her close friend and roommate Alexa Pienaar.
“I’m really pleased with my performance since you can never let your guard down against Alexa, who is always a formidable opponent and also a good friend,” she commented.
“I’m looking forward to competing against Lizelle, and I anticipate it will be a challenging match, but it’s fantastic to have two players from Gqeberha in the final.”
Muller, the champion of the 2021 Growthpoint women’s event, expressed her joy at returning to the final after last participating in 2022, where she was a runner-up to Commins.
“It feels wonderful to be back in the final, but it was a very tough match – Helena played exceptionally well, so kudos to her,” Muller said.
After dominating the second and third games, she admitted she might have become “a bit too eager” when she reached match point in the fourth game.
“I had been in control, and suddenly felt the pressure, which affected my follow-through. Nevertheless, I managed to regain control in the fifth game by taking command of the front court and keeping her pushed back.”
Simultaneously, the Growthpoint U15 championships have reached an exciting stage, featuring a direct shootout for the girls’ title and three contenders vying for the boys’ prize.
Northerns’ top seed Chanel Leppan overcame a difficult challenge against Border’s Simi Shwababa, ultimately winning in five games to set up a decisive match against Western Province’s Aakiefah Taliep.
Starting the championships as the seventh seed, Taliep has emerged as the dark horse, remaining unbeaten going into the final.
In the boys’ category, Zayd Badroodien (WP) holds the lead, with two victories in the playoff for positions 1-4, totaling four points, followed by his provincial teammate Rupert Good and Boland’s Zander Smit, both with two points.
Badroodien will face Smit on Saturday, and a win will secure him national honors; conversely, a victory for Smit will hinge on the outcome of the match between Good and Ponatshego Molefe (Joburg Squash).
The latest results:
Seniors Women
Semifinals: 1-Hayley Ward (EP) bt 4-Alexa Pienaar (SA Country Districts) 3-0 (11-2 11-6 11-7) 3-Lizelle Muller (SA Country Districts) bt 2-Helena Hudson (Northerns) 3-2 (8-11 11-5 11-1 14-16 11-5).
5-8: Milnay Louw (WP) bt Kim McDonald (WP) 3-0 (11-7 11-9 11-8), Keschia Schlebusch (SA Country Districts) bt Lara Patrick (Northerns) 3-1 (11-9 11-5 5-11 11-7), Milnay Louw (WP) bt Keschia Schlebusch (SA Country Districts) 3-0 (11-7 11-2 11-8), Kim McDonald (WP) bt Lara Patrick (Northerns) 3-1 (9-11 11-5 11-8 11-4).
Seniors Men
Semifinals: 1-Dewald van Niekerk (SA Country Districts) bt 4-John Anderson (Joburg Squash) 3-0 (11-1 11-2 11-3), 2-Damian Groenewald (Northerns) bt 3-Luhann Groenewald (Northerns) 3-2 (5-11 11-7 11-9 9-11 11-5).
5-8: Dean Venter (EP) bt Reuel Videler (SA Country Districts) 3-1 (11-7 11-5 3-11 11-6), JP Brits (SA Country Districts) bt Judah Phillips (Northerns) 3-2 (8-11 11-4 11-6 6-11 11-6), Dean Venter (EP) bt Judah Phillips (Northerns) 3-0 (11-9 11-5 11-7), Reuel Videler (SA Country Districts) bt JP Brits (SA Country Districts) 3-2 (8-11 11-4 11-8 7-11 11-3).
U15 Girls
1-4: Chanel Leppan (Northerns) bt Mia Bakkes (Northerns) 3-2 (7-11 11-8 7-11 11-5 11-8), Aakiefah Taliep (WP) bt Simi Shwababa (Border) 3-0 (11-7 11-7 11-8), Chanel Leppan (Northerns) bt Simi Shwababa (Border) 3-2 (11-7 11-5 11-13 13-15 11-3), Aakiefah Taliep (WP) bt Mia Bakkes (Northerns) 3-1 (8-11 11-3 11-7 11-6).
5-8: Jenna-Leigh Wyllie (EP) bt Kaitlin Saayman (Free State) 3-1 (11-5 8-11 11-9 11-5), Kimeya Moonisami (KZN) bt Janel Hall (EP) 3-1 (11-6 11-4 6-11 11-7), Kimeya Moonisami (KZN) bt Jenna-Leigh Wyllie (WP) 3-0 (11-2 11-2 11-7), Janel Hall (EP) bt Kaitlin Saayman (Free State) 3-0 (11-5 11-4 11-2), Kimeya Moonisami (KZN) bt Kaitlin Saayman (Free State) 3-0 (11-1 11-6 11-6).
U15 Boys
1-4: Zander Smit (Boland) bt Ponatshego Molefe (Joburg Squash) 3-1 (11-4 11-1 5-11 11-5), Zayd Badroodien (WP) bt Rupert Good (WP) 3-1 (11-6 11-8 4-11 11-7), Zayd Badroodien (WP) bt Ponatshego Molefe (Joburg Squash) 3-1 (9-11 11-6 11-9 11-4), Rupert Good (WP) bt Zander Smit (Boland) 3-0 (11-8 11-6 11-6).
5-8: George Hung (Free State) bt Emile Erasmus (Northerns) 3-1 (8-11 11-6 11-6 11-9), Keeran Morrison (EP) bt Phethahatso Motsoeneng (Limpopo) 3-1 (11-4 9-11 11-7 11-8), George Hung (Free State) bt Phethahatso Motsoeneng (Limpopo) 3-1 (8-11 11-6 11-6 11-8), Keeran Morrison (EP) bt Emile Erasmus (Northerns) 3-2 (11-8 14-12 8-11 3-11 11-5), Phethahatso Motsoeneng (Limpopo) bt Emile Erasmus (Northerns) 3-2 (11-4 6-11 10-12 11-6 14-12).
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