[8] Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) 3-2 Ziad Ibrahim (EGY) 11-5, 14-16, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6 (92m)
Well, I wrote a few reports ago, “match of the tournament” for Hannah/Saran, scrap that. The drama was higher in this one – the 92m doesn’t count though, as we have about 15m of stoppage for injuries.
But when you have two Egyptians playing in Cairo, it’s like the final of the world champ every time! Personally, I had never heard of or seen Ziad before yesterday when the wild card caused a first upset ousting former British Junior Champ [9] Jonah Bryant. It was not expected, and when he talked to me yesterday after his match, Zakaria expected to play the English today.
Ziad plays in Cairo Shams Club, he’s been playing PSA challenger tour for a couple of years, his dad told me, he is 23 and 162WR. Zakaria is much younger – and not as strong physically – 16 yo and 62WR. On paper, a simple affair. WRONG!!!
If Zakaria – your World Junior Champ – took the first game, he lost the second one in a dramatic and seesaw battle, huge 27m, 16/14. The loss damaged the young player a lot mentally, losing the third against a Ziad literally on fire, sublime attacks, composed squash. 2/1 down is not what Zakaria expected.
The fourth was neck to neck, 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4, 6/6. At that point a little contact betwen those two, a little twisting of the ankle for Ziad, contributed injury, break, around 10, 12m. Completely gone mentally, Ziad was gone. He came back 11/7 in no time for the favourite.
The 5th sees another break at 3/1, self inflicted knee injury for the young Champion, another close and intense game, but like in the previous game, from 5/6, it’s like Ziad just switched off, losing 11/6 after saving a match ball. Like if suddenly he realised he was about to create another upset, and that took him off the match. But what do I know…
Zakaria : Today, I wasn’t happy with the way I was playing, I wasn’t as smart as I normally am. I was not as quick as I am usually, either. Very passive, I wasn’t going for my shots, even the game I won at the start, I was very disappointed in myself, not hitting my length, this is not how I want to play.
It carried on like that the whole match, but at the end of the day, that’s what defines me, I won while not playing well, maybe the worst match I played for about two years.
As I told you yesterday, I was expecting to play Jonah, when I found out Ziad won, I watched the match, I tried to be very concentrated about what he does, he has some exceptional shots, all credit to him, he can hit winners from anywhere on the court. It’s a skill he has since the juniors.
It was a good match, he played very well, I didn’t. I’m happy I was able to close down, and in the 4th, I had this massive cramp, I couldn’t walk, I hit my foot on the floor and it worked, not sure why though. It’s still painful now to be honest.
Tomorrow Emyr Evans. I played him in Manchester, I beat him, so I have a rough idea how he plays, I’m going to have a look at our match, and also watch his match against Cesar today, will try and analyse as much as I can, come tomorrow, new day, new match, completely fresh.
