Top seeds Alex Fuller and Dewald van Niekerk will headline the field for the Growthpoint SA Squash Nationals starting at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town tomorrow.
Several players will arrive fresh from last month’s interprovincial campaign, which saw Western Province’s Fuller and Van Niekerk of SA Country Districts (SACD) reign supreme in the women’s and men’s competitions.
Both Fuller and Van Niekerk will be at home at the Waterfront’s all-glass court because the nationals have been played there for the past three years. The 30-year-old Fuller lifted the national title in 2020 and 2022, while Van Niekerk, 27, will be chasing his fourth title in a row.
Fuller, who reached a career-high world ranking of 22, retired after a decade on the professional circuit late last year, and is enjoying the release from the pressure of competing at an elite level.
“My squash has almost gone the full circle, and after I retired at the beginning of November, I just didn’t want to play – and I took three months off,” said Fuller.
“I do love the game because it has brought me so many special memories, so after a while I decided to get back on the court, and it has allowed me to play with so much more freedom.
“As a professional, you are concerned that you should be practising every day, but now there are no expectations and no pressure, so I almost feel I am playing better than when I was on tour.
“I’m enjoying playing in these tournaments and competing again, so I’m excited about this next opportunity.”
Van Niekerk will be up against lots of experience in SA Country Districts teammate JP Brits and Joburg Squash’s Christo Potgieter, plus young talent in second seed Damian Groenewald of Northerns.
This will keep the country’s best player on his toes throughout the weekend as his rivals look to knock him off the top of the podium.
“I will take the SA Nationals as I do every year by looking at it as if I’m playing it for the first time,” said Van Niekerk.
“Obviously I do have the experience of being seeded No 1 and everyone coming for you, but it’s very much a case of taking it one match at a time and not over-thinking it.
“It is the biggest individual title you can win, so I will always make time to be at the SA Nationals.”
Squash SA president Kyle Potgieter said local fans can look forward to hosting another high-quality event.
“We look forward to a most successful and exciting tournament at the V&A Waterfront,” said Potgieter, adding that the event has always caused a buzz at the mall.
“We would like to take this opportunity to wish the players well and let squash be the winner.”
There is no charge for spectators keen to watch the top South African squash players competing for national honours.
Tomorrow’s first-round matches
Women – 11am: 1-Alex Fuller (Western Province) v 8-Kimberley McDonald (Northerns), 11.30am: 2-Hayley Ward (Eastern Province) v 7-Awande Malinga (Northerns), 1pm: 3-Alexa Pienaar (SA Country Districts) v 6-Milnay Louw (Western Province), 1.30pm: 4-Teagan Russell (Joburg Squash) v 5-Amy Greyvenstein (Free State)
Men – 12pm: 1-Dewald van Niekerk (SACD) v 8-Jonty Matthys (SACD), 12.30pm: 2-Damian Groenewald (Northerns) v 7-Reuel Videler (SACD), 2pm: JP Brits (SACD) v Mighael Lombard (Western Province), 2.30pm: 4-Christo Potgieter (Joburg Squash) v 5-Ruan Olivier (Northerns)