SUNDAY, 08 FEBRUARY 2026
WARD, GROENEWALD TAKE TWO TITLES AT NATIONAL DOUBLES SQUASH CHAMPS
- Men’s clash delivers thrilling finale at Country Club Johannesburg
Johannesburg, Gauteng: Eastern Province’s Hayley Ward and Northerns’ Damian Groenewald completed a memorable double when they each claimed two titles on a thrilling final day of the SA Nationals Doubles Squash Championships at Country Club Johannesburg, Auckland Park on Sunday.
The venue – the only facility in the country with four dedicated doubles courts (1.21m wider than a singles court) capable of hosting an elite event of this nature – once again provided the stage for a series of high-quality contests that showcased the fast-paced, attacking nature of doubles squash.
The match of the day was the men’s final, which brought the curtain down on the tournament in dramatic fashion. Groenewald and Dewald van Niekerk (SA Country Districts) saved two match points to edge Christo Potgieter and Tristen Worth (both Joburg Squash) 2-1, with the decider going to sudden death at 11-10.
Earlier, Ward and her SA Country Districts partner Alexa Pienaar held a clear edge in the women’s final. Their precision and control proved too strong for the Northerns combination of Helena Hudson and Kim McDonald as they powered to an 11-4, 11-4 victory.
The win secured a hat-trick of titles for the Gqeberha professional following successes in 2024 (with Kacey-Leigh Dodd) and 2025 (with Pienaar). It also marked Ward’s fourth women’s doubles crown overall.
Ward and Groenewald then combined to defend their mixed doubles title, producing a spirited fightback in the second game to defeat former champions Potgieter and Cheyna Wood (Joburg Squash) 11-6, 11-10.
The men’s final proved a marathon battle as four of South Africa’s leading players probed relentlessly for openings in a match defined by attrition, angles and nerve.
The result hung in the balance deep into the final game when Potgieter and Worth surged ahead at 8-–8. A perfectly weighted lob that died at the back of the court, followed by a shot into the tin from their opponents, handed them two match points at 10–8.
But Van Niekerk, who won last year’s title with Groenewald’s younger brother, Luhaan, and his partner refused to yield.
They tightened their play, absorbed the pressure and clawed their way back to 10–10. With sudden death in effect, a couple of errors from Potgieter and Worth saw Groenewald and Van Niekerk snatch victory 11–10 in a pulsating finish.
Afterwards, the champions praised both the tournament and the standard of competition.
“In terms of the final, it was great and that sort of match is all about who can control their nerves the most,” said Groenewald. “Especially playing Christo and Tristen, because both of them are so skilful that we just had to grind it out.
“Very happy in the end to have the big-match temperament when it mattered to get over the line.”
In the women’s final, Ward and Pienaar dictated proceedings from the outset. They raced to a 7-2 lead in the opening game and never allowed their opponents to settle.
The second game followed a similar script. Despite Hudson and McDonald’s efforts to create parity, Ward and Pienaar again built a 7-3 advantage and, through accurate and aggressive strokeplay, conceded only one more point as they sealed the title in commanding fashion.
Ward credited their growing partnership for the success.
“It was awesome to play in the doubles again and I think Alexa and I grooved quite well together,” she said. “We played together for the first time last year and again this year we are really happy with how it turned out.”
Pienaar echoed those sentiments.
“This format is always a lot of fun and it’s my second year playing with Hayley. I think every year we are a little bit more comfortable and we read each other’s game a bit more,” she said.
“It’s also nice to see some younger players coming into the system, giving us a run for our money, and we are excited for next year.”
The mixed final delivered yet another dramatic finish. Potgieter and Wood looked set to force a decider when they stormed to a 6-1 lead in the second game.
Ward and Groenewald, however, dug deep to reel them back in, levelling at 8-8. Even when Wood struck two superb winners into the nick to move ahead 10-8, the defending champions refused to buckle.
They saved both game points and, with sudden death at 10–10, sealed the title when Potgieter attempted a bold cross-court nick off the serve, only to clip the top of the tin.
Top of Form
FINAL RESULTS:
Women: Hayley Ward (EP), Alexa Pienaar (SACD) bt Helena Hudson (Northerns), Kim McDonald (Northerns) 2-0 (11-4 11-4)
Men: Dewald van Niekerk (SACD), Damian Groenewald (Northerns) bt Christo Potgieter (Joburg Squash), Tristen Worth (Joburg Squash) 2-1 (11-6 7-11 11-10)
Mixed: Hayley Ward (EP), Damian Groenewald (Northerns) bt Cheyna Wood (Joburg Squash), Christo Potgieter (Joburg Squash) 2-0 (11-6 11-10).
Ends
FREE TO USE PICTURES WITH CAPTIONS
Hayley Ward and Alexa Pienaar: Hayley Ward (Eastern Province, left) and Alexa Pienaar (SA Country Districts) retained their women’s title at the SA National Doubles Squash Championships at Country Club Johannesburg on Sunday. They defeated the Northerns pair of Helena Hudson and Kim McDonald 11-4 11-4 in the final.
Damian Groenewald and Hayley Ward: Damian Groenewald (Northerns, left) and Hayley Ward (Eastern Province) retained their mixed title at the SA National Doubles Squash Championships at Country Club Johannesburg on Sunday. They defeated the Joburg Squash pair of Christo Potgieter and Cheyna Wood 11-6 11-10 in the final.
All four (for both pics): The champions of the SA National Doubles Squash Championships played at Country Club Johannesburg on Sunday were, from left, Alex Pienaar (SA Country Districts, women’s title), Hayley Ward (Eastern Province, women’s and mixed titles), Damian Groenewald (Northerns, men’s and mixed titles), Dewald van Niekerk (SACD, men’s title).
Damian Groenewald and Dewald Van Niekerk: Damian Groenewald (Northerns, left) and Dewald van Niekerk (SA Country Districts) won the men’s title in SA National Doubles Squash Championships at Country Club Johannesburg on Sunday. They defeated the Joburg Squash pair of Christo Potgieter and Tristen Worth 11-6 7-11 11-10 in the final.
Photo credits: Reg Caldecott
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