QF: [10] Rana Ismail (EGY) 3-2 Nour Khafagy (EGY)

[10] Rana Ismail (EGY) 3-2 Nour Khafagy (EGY) Ā 11-8, 11-6, 11-13, 5-11, 13-11 (61m)

I have to say, what a start to the day. We nearly had a big injustice on court today due to poor refereeing, which could have led to a deserving winner’s victory being denied.

I rarely comment on refereeing, a lot of people are more qualified than I am in that regard. But today was bad, again, and again, letting a player get away with murder – time wasting at nearly every return of serve, no action taken, stoppage for injuries with no justification, but most of all, terrible decisions at crucial times.

Tactically today, I felt Rana was better. She was calm, finding her targets at the back, and to be honest, I couldn’t see Nour – who has been complaining about a knee injury for the past 2 days – take the match, especially as she appeared very tired by the end of the second.

But the young lady, 18, ranked 111, managed to find a better basic game, that gave her more time to adjust her shots and her brain. Led 4/0, 5/2 and 6/3, she put some good pressure on Rana – 22 yo, ranked 73, clawing back nicely – using the shoe laces, and taking a lot of time as I mentioned, to come back level, 7/7, 8/8. A nice string of points for Rana, match ball, 10/8. Again, Nour finding some strong attacks to the front, levelled 10/10.

A third match ball, 11/10 for Rana, she plays a lovely low straight, Nour is going to the front, ball passed her on the right side, it’s an obvious no let, match to Rana. Well, to our astonishment, the ref gives a stroke to Nour, who’ll squeezes two very quick points to an heartbroken Rana, 13/11, game to Nour.

Rana didn’t play the 4th, she was out of it, and Nour took her chances nicely, 11/5 in 5m, and went on with the momentum, 4/4 to 8/4. Match won, surely. But “I just didn’t want to lose today” from Rana, who finds the squash she played in the first two games, even saving a match ball at 9/10.

10/10, Rana setting up her 4th match ball of the match, 11/10, saved by Nour brilliantly, 11/11. Another terrible decision that got the whole of the crowd up in arms – and your servant – an obvious stroke to Rana, that is called Let. HOW MANY TIMES CAN YOU TAKE A MATCH FROM A PLAYER I thought – and probably said out loud too, oups…

Finally, 11/10 Rana after Nour tinned the ball, and she clinches that last point, 13/11. 16m last game.

Rana :Ā I had a few heart attacks during that match too…

In the 4th I kept thinking about the previous game and end of it, thinking I should have won, and I didn’t give it my all. When got down 8/4, I suddenly realised I was very close to lose the match, and I really didn’t want that.

I knew it was a very good chance to play in a major for the first time, so I remindedĀ  myself to giving it all, even if it meant to lose theĀ  match, but at least, I would have given it everything, which I didn’t do in the 4th. I was very close in the 5th so I thought, come on, this is your last chance. So I gave it my all…

Tactically, I think I could have done better. I made it difficult for myself at times, as when I was winning or with a good lead, I started rushing my shots, and I was not accurate at all. And that allowed her to play her great shots, and up her game. I should have been more organised with my thoughts, my shots. Overall it’s good, but I feel there is room for improvement.

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