Thursday saw the 4th day of the SA National Squash Event.
Elani Landman beat Farrah Sterne (N) 3-0 . Landman was very focused and moved the ball around the court far too quickly for Sterne. By putting Sterne under pressure Landman forced Sterne to make a lot of errors. Sterne looked very uncomfortable on the all glass court. Milnay Louw took advantage of a very nervous Alexa Pienaar to go through to the semi-finals. Louw hit the ball low and hard and Pienaar did just not get into her game.
In the men’s event Gary Naidoo from Kwazulu Natal had a marathon match against Zuko Kubukeli eventually winning 3-2. The second game proved to be very critical as Naidoo was 1-0 down and game ball down in the second but managed to clinch back the game 16-14. Kubukeli once again put Naidoo under extreme pressure with good length and great retrieving in the 3rdto go 2-1 up. Naidoo dug deep and keep his composure and cut out the unforced errors to take the fourth and even the match at 2-2. Kubukeli had nothing more to give and Naidoo raced away with the 5th 11-1. Steve Coppinger was just too fast and accurate for Rodney Durbach. Coppinger took the ball early and varied the pace to totally outplay Durbach.
The semi final line up sees Milnay Louw taking on Elani Landman at 17:30 followed by Shaun Le Roux playing Thoboki Mohohlo, then Siyoli Waters Waters playing Alex Fuller and finally Steve Coppinger playing Gary Naidoo.
The finals will be at Wanderers Squash Club on Saturday starting at 11:45.
Men’s Quarter finals Results:
G Naidoo bt Z Kubukeli 3-2, 9/11, 16/14, 7/11, 11/8, 11/1 (69mins), (1 seed)S Coppinger (KZN) bt R Durbach (WP) 3-0, 11/7, 11/7, 11/3 (34mins).
Ladies 3rd Round Results:
E Landman (Gau) bt F Sterne 3-0, 11/4, 11/7, 11/3 (23mins), M Louw (WP) bt A Pienaar (SACD) 3-0, 11/4, 11/5, 11/9, (31mins),
Plate Results :
Men
D Groenewald (EG) bt R Olivier (FS) 3-1, 2/11, 12/10, 11/8, 11/9 (40mins), J Carter bt H Schoeman 3-0, 11/3, 11/2, 11/3 (24mins)
Ladies
5 – 8 Playoffs :
L Landman bt K Schultz (WP) 3-1, 9/11, 11/7, 11/4, 11/5 (29mins)
Plate events:
M Kohne (SACD) bt M Westmoreland (SACD) 3-0, 11/5, 11/3, 13/11, J Harmse bt M Wiese 3-0, 11/5 14/12 11/6 (20mins)