[3] Camille Serme (FRA) 3-0 [15] Yathreb Adel (EGY) 11-6, 11-2, 11-6 (28m)
Those two had played three times and the H2H was all for Camille but the last time they played, it went to 4, it was in the DPD Open in Holland in April. This time, in Egypt, although Camille is top draw, Yathreb was “expected” to win.
That’s what Egypt does to the Egyptian players. Pressure is somehow on them and sometimes it creates the upset… Tonight, it wasn’t to be for the 23 year old Egyptian, who did her Uni in Birmingham, England.
The French number 1 was up in the opener 5/2, 6/3. Some good rallies, back to 5/6, but Camille finds her targets on the backhand and it’s 9/5 11/6 in 9m.
No show for the Egyptian in the second, 6m and 11/2.
In the third, Camille in control 5/1, 6/2, 7/3, but a good nice push from Yathreb who comes back rather close 6/7, enough to prompt a few “Allez Cam” from the support camp. It worked, 4 points later, Camille is shaking the hand of her opponent, 11/6 in 11m..
Yathreb
I’m working on a few things at the moment, but I’m finding it difficult at the moment to find the right balance on my attacks. For a while I was overdoing it but now I feel I’m becoming too passive.
I’m at the moment of change where I don’t know how to do what I used to do, and I don’t know how to do the new things yet… It is rather frustrating…
Camille
I think I was more precise today than the first match. I found good targets, in particular from the back of the court, and better rhythm as well, so I’m happy with my performance tonight. A few errors, in particular on the volley, just a few tweaks here and there.
I’m looking forward to facing Hania. I played her in France in Nantes not so long ago and it was a really good match, so I’m ready for a battle.”
