R3: Mazen Hesham (EGY) 3-0 Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 (56m)
As Marwan stated it this afternoon, that match could have gone so many ways… It went 3/0 to Mazen, but each game is that close it could have been all to Saurav, or go to 5…
But fast and furious, it surely was. Mazen, bless him, keeps offering so many points to his opponent, he really has a heart of gold “go on then, just take 7 free points in the first game, only 4 in the second mind, plus away a stroke, that makes 5. He finally became mean in the third, giving away only one.
8/8 in the first, 7/7, 8/8 in the next two, it was that close, as close as their ranking (13/14). They both made the court very big for the other one, it’s all a question of fine lines as James Willstrop would say.
Fast, very fast pace, furious, very furious, splendid drop shots to the front corners, retrieving from hell. Excellent match really, extremely entertaining for the crowd…
Mazen
“I’m enjoying myself, playing in front of the Pyramids in Egypt – what else do you need?”
“I far from killed it, it was three tough games. I had to fight in each game and especially for the last few points, the crucial points at 8-8 and stuff like this. I’m really happy to be here, to be playing and enjoying my squash again, moving a little better – I have felt like an 80-year-old for the last few years, so I am living up to my age again.
“I have the best fans here. My mum, dad, cousin, my coach has helped me a lot these last few years and Hossam – the new addition to the team – these guys are amazing. I’m a hard case to deal with, I’m trying to be a better person and a better player and I think it’s all going to plan.”
