Report courtesy of WSF.
Team USA and hosts South Africa shared honors in the inaugural African Junior Open Squash Championships at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town which attracted more than 100 players.
Top-seeded South African Blaine Verhage emerged victorious in the Men’s U19 event without conceding a game throughout the weekend. In the final, the 17-year-old from Pretoria defeated fellow countryman Nathan van der Westhuyzen, the No.3 seed, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9.
USA’s Emily Rose arrived in Cape Town fresh from her success in last week’s South African Junior Open in Johannesburg. After overcoming compatriot Haley Aube in the Women’s U19 semi-finals, the 18-year-old from Greenwich then faced her sister Claire Aube in the final after the third seed’s surprise win over home hope Helena Coetzee, the No.2 seed, in the other semi.
Rose secured her second successive title in South Africa after beating Aube 11-9, 11-9, 11-7.
Rose was one of a party of thirteen players from the Chelsea Piers Athletic Club in Stamford, Connecticut, brought over by the club’s Director of Squash Natalie Grainger, the former world No. 1 from South Africa.
Men’s U19 Semifinals:
[1] Blaine Verhage (RSA) bt [4] Raphael Buitendag (RSA) 11-8, 11-5, 11-7
[3] Nathan van der Westhuyzen (RSA) bt [7] Nathaniel Buitendag (RSA) 11-7, 11-5, 11-8
Final:
[1] Blaine Verhage (RSA) bt [3] Nathan van der Westhuyzen (RSA) 11-6, 11-9, 11-9
Women’s U19 Semifinals:
[1] Emily Rose (USA) bt [4] Haley Aube (USA) 11-4, 11-8, 11-6
[3] Claire Aube (USA) bt [2] Helena Coetzee (RSA) 11-6, 9-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-2
Final:
[1] Emily Rose (USA) bt [3] Claire Aube (USA) 11-9, 11-9, 11-7
