Cape Town; Top seed Lizelle Muller achieved a long-cherished dream when she was crowned the Growthpoint SA Nationals squash champion for the first time after defeating Milnay Louw at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday.
The 37-year-old Gqeberha-based player had been the runner-up for the last two years and was overcome with emotion when she ended a 33-minute battle with a 3-1 victory.
To make it a memorable day for the Van Niekerks, younger brother Dewald, 13 years her junior, annexed the men’s title in his first appearance in the final after a titanic one-hour duel with former mentor Christo Potgieter 3-1.
In the U17 SA Nationals finals played earlier in the afternoon, Luhann Groenewald of Northerns and Savannah Ingledew of Midlands were crowned the boys’ and girls’ champions respectively.
The tournament finale provided a celebration of squash, highlighting the young talent coming through, as well showcasing the role played by some of South Africa’s senior players in the sport.
Kudos must go to Muller who overcame a slightly worrying start against Louw by losing the first game.
However, she seemed to sense this was her moment and that it was up to her to seize the opportunity, which she did in emphatic fashion.
Moving superbly around the court she imposed her pattern on the match to prove just too much for the three-time former champion.
Afterwards Muller was at a loss for words after her previous disappointments.
“I just don’t know what to say except I am so happy and excited,” she said.
“I knew I had to go out there and play my game because Milnay can be very dangerous if you let her dominate the middle of the court. I felt I was able to do that today.”
Later Dewald said it was a special moment to be able share his triumph with his sister.
He was made to work all the way by the energetic defending champion and even when he led 8-1 in the fourth, Potgieter refused to go away.
The second seed pulled back to 8-8 before the game went to 10-10, and finally Van Niekerk took the title with his fourth match point.
“It really is awesome to share this with Lizelle and I just want to thank everyone who has helped me get here, including my brother Rudi (whom he defeated in Thursday’s semifinals),” Dewald said.
“Also to Christo, who is a former coach and has played a big role in my life, thanks very much.”
In the U17 championships, top seeds Groenewald and Ingledew were pushed all the way by Seth Flisberg (WP) and Awande Malinga (Northerns) respectively, both matches going to five games.
With the home crowd behind him, Flisberg delivered a remarkable comeback after the two-handed Groenewald had swept through the first two games in just 13 minutes.
Tightening up his game and producing the type of winning shots he is so capable of, Flisberg levelled the match as Groenewald grew increasingly agitated.
In the end though, the Northerns player said his coach had urged him to stay focused and, keeping his composure, he was able to regain his accuracy to control the pattern of the deciding game.
Ingledew and Malinga have had many battles over the years and Saturday’s clash was no different.
The closeness of their rivalry was encapsulated in the final game when Ingledew led 8-2, only for Malinga to fight back to 9-9.
“I think maybe I got too excited at being so close to the win and she really came back nicely,” Ingledew said. “But it was amazing to finally get over the line.”
Results from the Growthpoint SA Nationals squash championships at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday were:
SA Nationals
Women’s final: 1-Lizelle Muller (SACD) bt 2-Milnay Louw (Northerns) 3-1 (9-11 11-7 11-6 11-7)
Men’s final: 1-Dewald van Niekerk (SACD) bt 2-Christo Potgieter (Joburg Squash) 3-1 (11-3 10-12 11-3 14-12)
SA U17 Nationals
Girls’ final: 1-Savannah Ingledew (Midlands) bt 2-Awande Malinga (Northerns) 3-2 (12-10 9-11 11-6 8-11 11-9)
Boys’ final: 1-Luhann Groenwald (Northerns) bt 2-Seth Flisberg (WP) 3-2 (11-6 11-1 4-11 8-11 11-4)
Ends
CARL4031.jpg: Girls U17 final between top seed Savannah Ingledew (Black&White) of Midlands and second seed Awande Malinga of Tshwane during day 4 of the Growthpoint SA National Squash Championships 2021 at V&A Waterfront on October 23, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. Ingledew beat Malinga 3-2 for the title. (Photo by Carl Fourie/BLD Communications).
CARL4046.jpg: Girls U17 finalist Awande Malinga of Tshwane (Blue) during day 4 of the Growthpoint SA National Squash Championships 2021 at V&A Waterfront on October 23, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. Second seed Awande was runner up in the Girls U17 tournament. (Photo by Carl Fourie/BLD Communications).
CARL4335.jpg: Boys U17 final between top seed Luhann Groenewald of Northerns (Grey shirt) and second seed Seth Flisberg of Western Province(Black shirt) during day 4 of the Growthpoint SA National Squash Championships 2021 at V&A Waterfront on October 23, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. Groenewald beat Flisberg 3-2 for the title. (Photo by Carl Fourie/BLD Communications)
CARL4448.jpg: Ladies Final between second seed Milnay Louw (Pink shoes) and top seed Lizelle Muller (Black shoes) during day 4 of the Growthpoint SA National Squash Championships 2021 at V&A Waterfront on October 23, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. Muller beat Louw 3-1 for the title. (Photo by Carl Fourie/BLD Communications)
CARL4602.jpg: Men’s Final between second seed Christo Potgieter of Joburg Squash (Dark blue) and top seed Dewald van Niekerk of SACD (Light blue shirt) during day 4 of the Growthpoint SA National Squash Championships 2021 at V&A Waterfront on October 23, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. Van Niekerk beat Potgieter 3-1 for the title. (Photo by Carl Fourie/BLD Communications)
CEF50125.jpg: Men’s winner Dewald van Niekerk (SACD) and his sister Ladies winner Lizelle Muller (SACD) during day 4 of the Growthpoint SA National Squash Championships 2021 at V&A Waterfront on October 23, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Carl Fourie/BLD Communications)
CEF50140.jpg: U/17 boys’ winner Luhann Groenewald (Northerns), Men’s winner Dewald van Niekerk (SACD), Ladies final winner Lizelle Muller (SACD) and U/17 girls’ finals winner Savannah Ingledew (Midlands) during day 4 of the Growthpoint SA National Squash Championships 2021 at V&A Waterfront on October 23, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Carl Fourie/BLD Communications)
CEF50148.jpg: U/17 boys’ winner Luhann Groenewald (Northerns), and U/17 girls’ finals winner Savannah Ingledew (Midlands) during day 4 of the Growthpoint SA National Squash Championships 2021 at V&A Waterfront on October 23, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Carl Fourie/BLD Communications)
Picture credit: Photo credit: Carl Fourie/BLD Communications
For free TV news inserts in English, Afrikaans, and Vernacular to contact David van der Sandt at david@tvsportsnews.co.za
For radio clips please contact Michael Vlismas at ursula@vlismasmedia.co.za
Media Contact
BLD Communications
Bruce Davidson;(+27) 083 212 2401, bruce@thebldgroup.com