The glass courts of Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront are about to become a pressure cooker, where reputations will either be gilded in glory or cracked under the weight of expectation.
At the Growthpoint Senior Nationals (28–30 August), South Africa’s finest squash players will trade lung-busting rallies and wall-hugging boasts in pursuit of titles that have come to define careers.
At the centre of the men’s draw stands Dewald van Niekerk, the immovable wall and relentless chaser who has turned the Nationals into his personal fortress since 2021.
The 28-year-old from Gqeberha is one victory away from stepping into uncharted territory.
He is aiming for a fifth consecutive crown, which would nudge him past Steve Coppinger’s four-title streak.
On paper, Van Niekerk looks untouchable. In reality, he refuses to treat the court like a coronation chamber.
“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 mindset has been his greatest weapon. He resets after every triumph, playing each Nationals as though the slate were wiped clean.
Yet challengers are circling, none more eager than Northerns’ Damian Groenewald, the second seed who stretched Van Niekerk to four games in last year’s final.
If Van Niekerk is the granite wall, Groenewald is the pickaxe determined to find a crack.
“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.
“And I have developed a good level of confidence in my abilities.”
Add 2019 champion JP Brits to the mix, and the men’s event promises a combustible cocktail of ambition and history.
The women’s draw, meanwhile, has a familiar script: Alex Commins versus the field.
The Cape Town veteran, once ranked 22nd in the world, has treated the Growthpoint Nationals like a favourite haunt—always returning, always winning.
Her tally already sits at five titles, the first dating back to 2015, and her sixth looks within reach.
But Commins is competing from a new headspace these days.
Having retired from the PSA Tour, she has swapped the grindstone for a freer rhythm.
“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.”
Her ease could be mistaken for vulnerability, but her challengers know better. Eastern Province’s Hayley Ward, world No 75, has come closest, pushing Commins in a 3–1 final last year.
Still, she has yet to break through the glass ceiling her rival has set. Ward begins her 2025 campaign against Northerns’ Helena Hudson, while Commins will open against Lara Patrick.
For spectators, the draw is a blend of legacy and fresh promise. Alongside the seniors, the U15 event gives a glimpse of squash’s next generation.
The teenagers will be eager to test their reflexes and resolve on the same stage as their heroes.
From WP’s Milton Posthumus to KZN’s Jeremy John, these players may one day carry the torch lit by Van Niekerk and Commins.
Squash South Africa are thrilled to bring the country’s best together for three intense days at the Waterfront.
“Squash SA is looking forward to yet another successful tournament and we wish all participants the best,” said national manager Jennifer Sawyer.
Come Thursday, when the first balls smack off the glass, the V&A will be the arena where champions defend their walls, challengers swing at history, and South African squash writes its next chapter.
