[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 3-0 [28] Hollie Naughton (CAN) 13-11, 11-7, 11-4 (26m)
A bit of a slow start for the Egyptian, only playing her first event of the season after her surgery. It was obvious she was looking for her marks out there. But all credit to Hollie, the Canadian just took the game to her and blasted her way through 6/1 before being caught up little by little.
Still at 10/6 up, it looked like her hard work and power was going to pay off. But Nour had another ending for that opener, and she couldn’t concretise any of the 4 game balls she had. And it’s finally Nour that closed it down on her second attempt at 13/11 in 10m.
Big domination in the second for the Egyptian, 7/3, and if Holllie managed to come a bit closer scorewise, Nour was very comfortable and takes the second 11/7 in 7m.
The third is close up to 3/3, but after that, it’s the Egyptian in “roue libre”, fluid and dominant, a few errors creeping in at the end of the Canadian, 11/4….
Nour
“It was very important for me to win the first game, that’s what made the difference for the whole match.
“I think I was a bit nervous in the first game, it’s the first match on the glass court and it’s in front of the Pyramids, so it’s not that easy. I’m still trying to get in my mind that I’m back on tour playing, it’s the first time playing her so I didn’t really know what to expect.
“I tried to relax and focus on my game. The conditions didn’t bother me, I think I was very comfortable on court.
“I’ve been dreaming of playing at this venue since I was seven years old and when I first had the injury I thought I wouldn’t have surgery before this tournament, so I did a lot to come and play here. I’m looking forward to this week.”
