[15] Yassin Elshafei (EGY) bt [8] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) 14-12, 5-11, 11-5, 11-8 (41m)
What an intense match, great battle, and FAIR! I congratulated Ahmed Effat for his player, Yassin, as it’s so nice to see a young player being focused on his squash, fair and square, not trying to block, push, or cheat. Some older players could take note….
Leandro had a tough battle yesterday against Swiss David Bernett, very intense, both mentally and physically. And my guess is that today, he might have needed to take that first game. Game he lost 14/12, in 17 long minutes.
A good recovery in the second from the Argentinian, 6m game, , Yassin a bit away with the fairies bless him. But once the Egyptian recharged the batteries, he zoomed through the third 11/5, 6m.
At 3/3 in the 4th, Leandro’s shot was called not up – I saw it good, but the ref was better placed than I was to judge. Leandro was not happy at all with the call, and put the ball in the tin three times in 4 points… So, from 3/3 to 4/7…. The Egyptian up 9/5, 10/6. A good push from the Argentinian 8/10, but it’s finally over and Yassin closes the match 11/8, in 7m.
Yassin
The main thing for any sport is to enjoy it, be safe, and healthy. And that’s always in my mind.
We had played once, and I lost, so I’m so happy to take the win today. Maybe in the third, he might have been a bit down physically, and I kept to my game plan. Of course, having my crowd behind me made a big difference.
I managed to keep the ralllies as long as possible in the first game, hold the ball nicely, but in the second I went too short too early, and he was able to play his shots from the T position.
Tomorrow I’m playing Patrick Rooney, I know him well, we are in the same team in Germany, he is a great guy, I don’t have anything to lose!
