Country Club, Johannesburg, South Africa: In a match full of spectacular rallies and phenomenal shot making, Tristan Worth and Damian Groenewald retained their men’s title in the Tswalu South African National Doubles Squash Championships in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Worth (SA Country Districts) and Groenewald (Northerns) were sent the full distance against the experienced Joburg Squash pairing of Christo Potgieter and Michael Wood, winning 11-8 9-11 11-5 as the players lit up a thrilling climax to the weekend at Country Club Johannesburg.
In the mixed final, playing an attack brand of squash, Alex Fuller (Western Province) and JP Brits (SACD) ended the run of Cheyna Wood and Christo Potgieter (both Joburg Squash) to win 11-5 11-7.
Wood and Potgieter were chasing a fourth title in a row, but this time Fuller and Brits found their rhythm early on and never relinquished that advantage to win 11-5 11-7.
It made amends for their loss to the same opponents in last year’s final and provided some compensation for Fuller after she and Wood were upset in the first round of the women’s doubles.
The Eastern Province team of Hayley Ward and Kacey-Leigh Dodd were crowned the women’s champions, adding to the title they previously won in 2021.
The men’s final was an enthralling affair, with both teams producing high-octane squash, and there was nothing to choose between them after two games.
But Worth and Groenewald eventually built a bit of breathing space after some incredible rallying in the third game, which sometimes saw at least three of the four players on the floor, diving for shots.
From 5-5 they won the next six points to eventually subdue their older rivals, adding to the maiden title they won last year.
The key to their success, said Groenewald, was the chemistry they had built up between them.
“We have been able to work well together and understand each other’s body language,” he said.
“So we constantly push each other to achieve better heights and it was great to win this again.”
Worth said their approach was not to let the pressure get to them.
“Sometimes if you win you have a target on your back, but we just took the line that we are young and will have more opportunities, so really we had nothing to lose, and it was a case of trying to gel on court and to have fun out there.”
In the mixed decider, it was the first national title for Brits and Fuller, and they were delighted to finally crack the ace pairing of Wood and Potgieter.
“We built our strategy well during the weekend and it was satisfying that we were able find the balance between keeping the error rate down and also maintaining a positive mindset,” Brits said.
Fuller said it took time to build a relationship in doubles.
“Christo and Cheyna are very experienced in that aspect and now with us playing for the third year, we’ve had more experience, and to be able to come in and put forward our best ‘A’ game we are happy we were able to execute as best as possible,” she said.
The women’s final saw Ward and Dodd, keeping their errors to a minimum and exploiting their shot-making skills, run away with the match after a closely contested first game.
Up against giantkillers Alexa Pienaar (SA Country Districts) and Northerns teenager Elzandri Janse van Rensburg, who defeated Fuller and Wood in the first round, the second seeds held their nerve as their opponents fought back from 6-2 down to eventually win it 11-8.
The second game followed a similar pattern as Ward and Dodd shot out to a commanding 5-0 lead. This time, though, there was no way back for Pienaar and Janse van Rensburg as their EP opponents never gave them a chance to storm to victory 11-1.
Ward and Dodd showed match-winning strokes and cutting out the mistakes meant they were able to maintain intense pressure on their opponents.
Once they had built a commanding lead, there was no way back for the team who had caused a sensational upset in the first round when they put out defending champions and top seeds Alex Fuller and Cheyna Wood in three games (11-9 9-11 12-10).
The EP pair were delighted at regaining the title in such emphatic fashion.
“It’s a phenomenal feeling winning a second title after winning in 2021 and then losing an incredible, brutal final, 12-10 in the third game, the next year,” Dodd said.“That year I sustained a horrible knee injury and was out for a while, but we came back strongly this year.“We prepared well for the final and implemented the game plan very well, so I’m proud of our efforts.”
Ward said the win was made all the sweeter by facing some “really strong teams in the draw”.
“I think we came into the match knowing we had to be the best we could be as they had done so well,” she added. We just made sure we kept it deep in the back corners and when it was on we shot straight and short, and it all worked well for us.”
Results:
Women’s doubles final: Hayley Ward (EP), Kacey-Leigh Dodd (EP) bt Alexa Pienaar (SACD), Elzandri Janse van Rensburg (Northerns) 11-8 11-1
Men’s doubles final: Tristen Worth (SACD), Damian Groenewald (Northerns) bt Christo Potgieter (Joburg Squash), Michael Wood (Joburg Squash) 11-8 9-11 11-5
Mixed doubles final: JP Brits (SACD), Alex Fuller (WP) bt Christo Potgieter (Joburg Squash), Cheyna Wood (Joburg Squash) 11-5 11-7
Ends
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Alexandra Fuller- Mixed winner Alex Fuller (Western Province) in action at the 2024 Tswalu South African National Doubles Squash Championships played at the Country Club Johannesburg on Sunday. Fuller was partnered by JP Brits (red shirt) of SACD, and they beat Christo Potgieter (Joburg Squash), Cheyna Wood (Joburg Squash) 11-5 11-7 in the final.
Damian Groenewald and Tristen Worth- 2024 Tswalu South African National Doubles Squash Championships men’s winners Damian Groenewald (left) of Northerns and Tristen Worth of SACD. The national doubles tournament was played at the Country Club Johannesburg on Sunday.
Jean Pierre- Mixed winner JP Brits (SACD) in action at the 2024 Tswalu South African National Doubles Squash Championships played at the Country Club Johannesburg on Sunday. Fuller was partnered by Alex Fuller (red shirt) of Western Province, and they beat Christo Potgieter (Joburg Squash), Cheyna Wood (Joburg Squash) 11-5 11-7 in the final.
JP Brits and Alex Fuller- 2024 Tswalu South African National Doubles Squash Championships mixed winners JP Brits (left) of SACD and Alex Fuller Western Province. The national doubles tournament was played at the Country Club Johannesburg on Sunday.
Kacey-Leigh- Women’s winner Kacey-Leigh Dodd (Eastern Province) in action at the 2024 Tswalu South African National Doubles Squash Championships played at the Country Club Johannesburg on Sunday. Dodd was partnered by Hayley Ward also of Eastern Province, and they beat Alexa Pienaar (SACD), Elzandri Janse van Rensburg (Northerns) 11-8 11-1 in the final.
Kacey-Leigh Dodd and Hayley Ward- 2024 Tswalu South African National Doubles Squash Championships women’s winners Kacey-Leigh Dodd (left) and Hayley Ward. The national doubles tournament was played at the Country Club Johannesburg on Sunday.
Photo credits: Reg Caldecott
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