[10] Rana Ismail (EGY) 3-0 [7] Asia Harris (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (27m)
This was a very contrasting match compared to the all-Egyptian Menna Walid/Barb Sameh match next door, which was fluid and played in good spirits.
This one was a bit of a contact competition, both two physically strong and fit girls, with both players complaining about her opponent’s movement. It was not too pleasant, I have to say, but Rana managed to keep focused, finding some good balance between attacking and deep shots, forcing a few errors from the back of the court from the fiery English player who reminds me of Laura Massaro in so many ways and who, I’m sure, will come back stronger…
Rana : It’s my second time playing her, I beat her last time 3/0 as well, but it was as tough as it was today…
It’s not easy to play that way, I was trying to move around her, and play shots in a position that she couldn’t block me. Usually, I don’t think about these things and I like to play my crosscourts, which is one of my strong points, but against her, I couldn’t, so I have to change my game plan, as I felt I was not going to be able to play the next shot.
So I started playing straighter squash, got the ball straight drives, tight, waiting for her to open, she helped me by making a few errors, maybe she felt a bit uncomfortable attacking from deep to the back position.
I still have another year to do at Nottingham University, but after that, I will be able to focus on my PSA career, trying to follow in Raneem El Welily’s and Nour El Sherbini’s footsteps…
