![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-SQA-World-Masters-RGPM5406-800x533.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDay Five of the 2026 World Squash Masters Championships continued to live up to the hype, with exciting matches taking place across all three venues in Perth, Australia.<\/p>\n
With Round of 16 and Quarter-Final matches underway, it was a day full of exciting rallies, dramatic comebacks and home crowd victories, with the players leaving nothing behind on court.<\/p>\n
Among the matches, Australia\u2019s former World No.49 Matthew Karwalski [1] defeated South Africa\u2019s Jimmy Van Niekerk [17\/32] 3-1 to secure his place in the Men\u2019s 40+ semi-finals.<\/p>\n
Despite the match being decided in four games, it was played with high intensity throughout, with Van Niekerk refusing to let the Australian escape on the scoreboard.<\/p>\n
With the No.1 seed taking the opener, it seemed the match would go one way. However, Van Niekerk had other ideas, claiming the second 12-10, followed by an enormous roar from the supportive South African crowd.<\/p>\n
However, despite the reaction from his supporting team, the momentum began to shift back towards Karwalski, with the former World No.49 ramping up the tempo as he closed out the third game 11-6.<\/p>\n
From there, Karwalski was able to take a firm grip on the match, closing out the final game 11-8. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m feeling good, Jimmy [Van Niekerk] was a very tough opponent today,\u201d said Karwalski. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe match was a bit tighter than I thought it was going to be, but he played very well and it feels nice to be able to pick up the victory and move into the semi-finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt like there were a lot more South African\u2019s watching and supporting today from the crowd, but it is was a great match and it was so nice to see so many people get behind us in the match today.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Joining him in the next round will be former World No.60 Zoe Petrovansky, who charged into the semi-finals in front of a home crowd, defeating Mexico\u2019s Blanca Nelly Bonifacio Diaz [9\/16] in the Women\u2019s 35+ draw.<\/p>\n
Petrovansky\u2019s win wasn\u2019t the only Australian victory in today\u2019s Women\u2019s 35+ draw, with Samantha Foyle [2], Heather Pilley [3\/4] and Kasey Bonato [3\/4] also scoring victories over compatriot Tracy Kimble [5\/8], South Africa\u2019s Gill Van Vlaanderen [5\/8] and Hong Kong China\u2019s Hei Ting Leung [9\/16], respectively, to confirm an all-Australian semi-final.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Squashworld Mirrabooka once again delivered plenty of drama and almost saw a seeded upset in the Men\u2019s 70+.<\/p>\n
Cayman Islands\u2019 John Macrury [1] narrowly avoided a shock exit after surviving a five-game battle, including three tie-breaks, to defeat South Africa\u2019s Sjors Gouweloos [9\/16].<\/p>\n
With the battle getting started from the very first point, the No.1 seed was shown exactly what was in store for the rest of the match, as he edged past his opponent to claim the opener 12-10.<\/p>\n
Moving into the second, the battle continued, but it was Gouweloos who took control of proceedings, with the South African winning 11-6, 11-8 to take the lead.<\/p>\n
With pressure mounting on the No.1 seed, things didn\u2019t ease, with Gouweloos pushing his opponent to a second tie-break. However, despite the pressure, Macrury was able to hold on, winning the fourth 13-11.<\/p>\n
Moving into the fifth with the scores tied, it seemed the momentum had begun to shift back in favour of the No.1 seed. Nonetheless, Macrury was pushed to the very end before scoring the victory 12-10 to reach tomorrow\u2019s Men\u2019s 70+ quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
On Court One at Squashworld Mirrabooka, spectators were treated to a performance from home crowd favourite and Western Australian native Sue Hillier [1], who impressed once again with a straight-game victory over South Africa\u2019s Janine Maureen Talbot [9\/16] as she continues her search for a fourth World Masters title.<\/p>\n
Belmont Squash Centre also entertained on Day Five, with Australia\u2019s former World No.45 Steven Finitsis [3\/4] knocking out Ukraine\u2019s No.1 Valerii Fedoruk [5\/8] in straight games in the Men\u2019s 40+ draw.<\/p>\n
In the Women\u2019s 55+ draw, Australia\u2019s Sarah Nelson [3\/4] booked her place in tomorrow\u2019s quarter-finals with a victory over compatriot Kathy Conquergood [9\/16], coming from behind to beat her 3-1.<\/p>\n
Spain\u2019s Guillermo Pedernera [3\/4] also powered into the next round, defeating India\u2019s Abishek Laxminarayan [5\/8] 11-8, 11-4, 11-7.<\/p>\n
The 2026 World Squash Masters Championships will return for Day Six tomorrow, Friday 4 September, with play beginning across all three venues at 10:00am (GMT+8).<\/p>\n
Action from the glass court at Karrinyup Shopping Centre, Court 5 at Squashworld Mirrabooka, and Court 2 at the Belmont Squash Centre will be shown live and free on\u00a0WORLDSQUASH.TV.<\/a><\/p>\n Click here to view all the results from Day Five<\/a><\/p>\n Click here to view the schedule for Day Six <\/a><\/p>\n You can find all the images and action from today\u2019s matches in our 2026 World Squash Masters Championship gallery here.<\/a><\/p>\n For the latest World Squash news, follow World Squash on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>,\u00a0Threads,<\/a>TikTok<\/a>,\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0X (formerly Twitter)\u00a0<\/a>or subscribe to the\u00a0World Squash Newsletter.<\/a><\/p>\n