Sherbini gets revenge on Tayeb

SF: [2] Nour El Sherbini (Egy) 3-1 [4] Nour El Tayeb (Egy)   11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8 (53m)

The Battle of Lights – Nour means light in Arabic. I just love the fact you still have people in the crowd that go “go on Nour” or “Yalla Nour”. Blessssss

Those two just played a few days ago in the semis of the CIBFinals, and in best of three, El Tayeb took the victory. So a double reason for Sherbini to want to win: reaching her third Pyramids final in a row, and avenge their last encounter.

Started beautifully for Sherbini, a short first game, 9m, ahead the whole time, 3-1, 8-4, 11-6, with 5 errors from El Tayeb (3 from Sherbini). The second went closer till the middle of the game, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4, 5/5, two enormous rallies, with El Tayeb diving away, but it’s still Sherbini at the end of the game, 11/7, 11m. Only 1 error for El Tayeb now…

Catwoman El Tayeb shows her stunning squash in the next game, this time leading the proceedings, 5/1, 7/2, 8/3. A nice push from Sherbini at that point, finding superb lines at the front and at the back, back to 6/ 8, but a couple of errors and nice shots from El Tayeb, it’s 11/7 for the latter, 12m. 0 error for El Tayeb, but 5 for her opponent.

You know that Sherbini is under threat when Omar El Sherbini, her brother, is starting to make himself heard. 2/2. 3/3. 4/4. A nice string of points for Sherbini, up 7/4, but El Tayeb on her hill and we are back at 7/7, 8/8. So many dives from Catwoman, giving it all what she’s got, several very hard rallies, a few video decisions, but it’s three points in a row for the four time world champ, 11/8… O error from El Tayeb again, 2 for Sherbini. El Tayeb didn’t do much wrong today.

El Sherbini

“Of course it is very tough. I have been playing with Nour for ten years now and every time it is tougher than the one before.

“This one was very tough and she tried to come back. We played two weeks ago and I won the first game before she came back strong. I didn’t want this to happen again this time so I had to be sharp from the start and I am really happy to be through.

“Playing top players, she gets everything back. I am trying to move well, feel good, and I am trying to get as many shots in as I can. It is hard, but I am trying to improve in all those areas.

“Nouran  is very tough also. She has been playing really well this tournament. It was a very tough match for her today but all credit to her. It should be a good one, hopefully. I wil go and rest and helpfully I will have a good plan for tomorrow!”