CAPE TOWN: The Groenewald household may need a referee for Friday’s breakfast, because Damian and Luhann will settle a family argument on the squash court when the brothers collide in the semifinals of the Growthpoint SA Senior Nationals at Makers Landing.
The all-Northerns showdown guarantees the Groenewald family a finalist, with one brother destined to carry the surname into Saturday’s title decider.
Second seed Damian booked his place with a composed 3-0 victory over fellow Northerns player Judah Phillips, winning 11-6, 11-7, 11-6.
Third seed Luhann had to survive a much tougher examination against 2019 champion JP Brits. The experienced Brits came out swinging, taking the opening game 11-4 and turning the glass court into his personal firing range.
Luhann, 20, refused to blink.
The youngster found his length, tightened his lines and turned defence into attack as the match progressed, winning 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.”
That advice could become ammunition when the brothers face each other.
They know each other’s games almost by heart, making Friday’s encounter a tactical chess match played at squash speed. Every boast, drop and dying length could carry a little family history with it.
The winner will face either defending champion Dewald van Niekerk or John Anderson in Saturday’s final. Van Niekerk began his quest for an unprecedented sixth consecutive national crown with a clinical 3-0 win over Reuel Videler, while Anderson defeated Dean Venter 3-0.
In the women’s draw, top seed Hayley Ward reached the semifinals with a 3-0 win over Kim McDonald.
Former champion Lizelle Muller also announced her return in style, recovering from a first-game defeat to beat Lara Patrick 3-1. She faces second seed Helena Hudson, who swept Keschia Schlebusch 3-0.
Alexa Pienaar completed the women’s semifinal line-up after edging former champion Milnay Louw 3-1.
Friday, however, belongs to the Groenewald brothers.
One family. One glass court. 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.
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:
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).
