Hayley Ward was crowned Growthpoint SA Senior Nationals women’s squash champion after a gripping five-game victory over Lizelle Muller at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday 22 August 2026.
The Eastern Province top seed defeated third seed Muller of SA Country Districts 3-2 (9-11 11-3 11-8 9-11 11-3) on the all-glass court, a welcome case of third time lucky after losing the previous two finals to Alex Commins.
Even with the defending champion absent from the draw this year, there was no easy route to the winner’s circle. Although she is no longer competing regularly at the highest level, Muller remains a formidable opponent and showed exactly why when she fought back after Hayley Ward appeared to have taken control of the fourth game.
Hayley Ward led 2-1 and 5-2, but the 2021 Growthpoint champion responded with her trademark competitiveness and considerable skill to level the match.
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Hayley Ward, however, retained her composure and quickly moved to a 10-1 lead in the decider, standing on the brink of a long-cherished dream after first competing at the Growthpoint Nationals in 2020. Muller saved two match points before the 28-year-old top seed finally closed out the encounter.
The emotions flowed afterwards for the new champion as she remembered her mother, Gail Ward, a former provincial player who died in 2023 but played a major role in her youngest daughter’s squash journey.
“I am very happy with the result – it was a tough 3-2 match because Lizelle is always such a difficult opponent.”
2026 Growthpoint SA Nationals Squash Champion, Hayley Ward
“I am just sorry my mother wasn’t here to see it – she would have probably told me to stop hitting into the tin – but I’m super happy to get the result.”
As the top seed, Hayley Ward carried much of the pressure into the tournament, particularly after missing the Growthpoint Jarvis-Kaplan interprovincial tournament this year and having limited opportunities to face many of the country’s leading players.
“It sucks that Alex wasn’t here to play because it’s always a tough game against her and you learn to challenge yourself, but it was also nerve-racking this time as I haven’t played the other girls this year.”
“So, I’m happy to get through it against such an amazing player as Lizelle, because that 3-2 could have gone either way. I just managed to get it together in the fifth.”
Chanel Leppan of Northerns emerged as the girls’ U15 champion after the final round of matches was completed on Saturday.
Leppan arrived as the top seed and justified her ranking, although she had to work hard to achieve her goal against seventh-seeded Aakiefah Taliep of Western Province after both players went into their final match unbeaten.
Leppan produced a solid all-round performance to take a 2-0 lead, but Taliep showed considerable mental resolve to fight her way back into the contest.
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Taliep had two game points to force a fifth, but Leppan refused to surrender and eventually sealed the title on her first match point, winning the fourth game 12-10.
Afterwards, the delighted Northerns player said her first order of business would be “to go and enjoy some ice-cream”.
“It feels very good to be the Growthpoint Nationals U15 champion, and this betters my previous high of winning the U13 Bloem Open,” Leppan said. “I have been training hard for this, so I am happy to have achieved this win.”
Senior Women Final Results at the 2026 Growthpoint SA Senior Nationals at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday 22 August 2026
Final: 1-Hayley Ward (EP) bt 3-Lizelle Muller (SACD) 3-2 (9-11 11-3 11-8 9-11 11-3)
Third place: 2-Helena Hudson (Northerns) bt 4-Alexa Pienaar (SACD) 3-1 (11-9 7-11 11-8 14-12)
Final placings:
1. Hayley Ward (EP)
2. Lizelle Muller (SACD)
3. Helena Hudson (Northerns)
4. Alexa Pienaar (SACD)
Senior Women 5-8:
Kim McDonald (WP) bt Keschia Schlebusch (SACD) 3-0 (11-5 11-5 11-7)
Milnay Louw (WP) bt Lara Patrick (Northerns) 3-1 (11-3 12-14 11-2 11-2)
Final placings:
5. Milnay Louw (WP)
6. Kim McDonald (WP)
7. Keschia Schlebusch (SACD)
8. Lara Patrick (Northerns)
U15 Girls 1-4:
Simi Shwababa (Border) bt Mia Bakkes (Northerns) 3-0 (11-3 11-3 11-9)
Chanel Leppan (Northerns) bt Aakiefah Taliep (WP) 3-1 (11-6 11-6 6-11 12-10)
Final placings:
1. Chanel Leppan (Northerns)
2. Aakiefah Taliep (WP)
3. Simi Shwababa (Border)
4. Mia Bakkes (Northerns)
U15 Girls 5-8:
Janel Hall (EP) bt Jenna-Leigh Wyllie (WP) 3-0 (11-4 11-5 11-5)
Final placings:
5. Kimeya Moonisami (KZN)
6. Janel Hall (EP)
7. Jenna-Leigh Wyllie (WP)
8. Kaitlin Saayman (Free State)
Original Copy: BLD Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Hayley Ward claimed her first Growthpoint SA Senior Nationals women’s squash title with a gripping five-game victory over Lizelle Muller at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday 22 August 2026. All Photos: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
Photo 2 Caption: Ward converted her third successive final appearance into a maiden national title after first competing at the Growthpoint Nationals in 2020.
Photo 3 Caption: Chanel Leppan capped an unbeaten campaign to be crowned Growthpoint SA Nationals U15 girls squash champion in Cape Town.
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