[4] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 3-0 Nadine Shahin (EGY) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (23m)
Those two have played three times that we know of, twice in the Egyptian Nationals, and once last year in the last China Open. And to be fair, this is the best I’ve seen Nadine play on the glass court, against a top player.
She normally freezes to alt when she plays on a big stage, but this time, she had warned us after beating Yathreb two days ago, she was ready to create an upset.
Well, she didn’t create an upset as such, but she sure took the game to Nour tonight. Attacking nearly every shot with a good accuracy, retrieving Nour’s attacks and running well, Nadine looked strong and determined, throwing caution and respect to the wind, she was aggressive, up on the T, and found some good combinations.
The score doesn’t clearly say it, but if you compare it to last match they played which lasted 15m, it was a much better performance from the underdog tonight.
But Nour was not to be denied, from 4/4 in each game, she just went up another gear and closed the game with poise.
Nour
“I’m very happy with how I played and how I was moving on court today.
“I haven’t played in the last 48 hours, so it takes a bit of time to get used to the court and the conditions, but I think I got used to it well and I’m very happy with my performance.
“I didn’t feel like it was too humid, I think I felt it was warmer last week at the CIB PSA World Tour Finals. I think the court this week is better, I know it’s the same court but I feel it’s playing a little better. I love the court because I’m comparing it to the normal courts we have been playing on this week. The glass court is always better and has a nice feel to it and if the conditions remain like that, I’m very happy.
“It’s extremely special to play in front of the Pyramids. I don’t want to get carried away and dream about winning the title here, it’s still very early. I’m very happy to be coming here again to play in the quarter finals.”
