Squash | All-glass court adds unique dimension to Growthpoint Nationals

V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa: South Africa’s premier individual squash tournament – the Growthpoint SA Nationals – has found a new home in Cape Town, with players and officials giving the Makers Landing venue a resounding thumbs up.

Glass Court- The all-glass court has become a familiar sight at the Growthpoint SA Nationals squash championships each year, having been used for the tournament since 2020.

Premier tournament finds new home at Makers Landing

The championships, which wrapped up last weekend with defending champions Alex Commins and Dewald van Niekerk retaining their titles, are set to return to the venue adjacent to the Cruise Terminal at the V&A Waterfront.

Squash SA national manager Jennifer Sawyer said several factors had contributed to the success of the event, including improved lighting that enhanced the experience for both players and spectators.

“With parking closer to the court, more space for organisers and fans on both levels, and better overall flow, we are very happy with how it all turned out,” Sawyer said. “We will be back here next year.”

At the heart of the spectacle is the iconic all-glass court, which offers an intimate atmosphere far removed from the traditional squash club environment.

Since Growthpoint Properties partnered with Squash SA in 2017, major events in the country have been elevated, with organisers making the most of opportunities to showcase the sport to the public.

The all-glass court itself has an illustrious history.

First introduced in 1992 at Johannesburg’s Standard Bank Arena for the men’s World Open – promoted by the late Owen Emslie – it witnessed Pakistani great Jansher Khan lifting the trophy.

The following year, Australian star Michelle Martin triumphed on the same court in the women’s World Open.

Since then, it has appeared in unique venues such as Pretoria’s Brooklyn Mall, Bloemfontein Mall, and Centurion’s SuperSport cricket ground.

Transported in a custom container, the court is assembled and dismantled by a specialised team. It takes about five days to set up and three to pack away.

Once the floor is levelled, the framework is erected for the 48 glass panels, followed by installation of the light canopy – after which the court is ready for play.

The court debuted in Cape Town for the Growthpoint SA Open in 2019 and has since hosted the SA Nationals at the V&A Waterfront in a shopping mall setting from 2021 to 2024.

For players, adapting to the bounce on the glass surface requires adjustment, but multiple practice sessions helped them prepare.

The main differences include the use of a white ball – which needs to be cleaned regularly – and walls covered with contravision film, which appear solid to players but allow spectators to view the action through tiny perforations.