QF: [1] Nour El Sherbini (Egy) 3-0 [6] Tinne Gilis (Bel)

Tinne : Obviously, she played really sharp, really well, but I also let her play and play her shots, because all my shots were very, very loose.

That’s very frustrating, because if that’s what you do against Nour, then you can’t do anything.

I don’t think I found any solutions except I’d put it in the back court away from her, but that didn’t happen that much, so I’m a bit annoyed with myself for not playing sharp, or sharper…

But to be fair, it’s very tough conditions out there. It’s been a while since I played in that heat, so it took a lot energy from the body as well, I didn’t move well and I was a bit out of breath which usually doesn’t happen to me that quickly.

She played really well, and she knows my game as well, she was reading my game very well, not that I can surprise her much… I think I was just defending and running the whole match, that’s the feeling that Nour gives you, and it’s a really … it’s not nice AT ALL. It’s really annoying..

I hope she’s going to win the tournament now!

“I’ve been playing for a long time and everyone knows I’m a slow starter. I took some time at the beginning but that’s the type of squash I want to be playing. The second game was my best; I always want to play like this and go for the shots. Luckily, they were working today.

“It’s definitely [an exciting time for squash]. It’s always good to put our courts in a different venue and I’m sure if you come in a few years you’ll see a lot of good-looking new buildings around.

“It’s getting closer to [El Sherbini’s hometown] Alexandria, too!”

On her next opponent Hania El Hammamy, she said: “Hania winning in three says a lot. It’s always a battle against her. She’s in good form, the first tournament of the season and a semi-final between us. It’s definitely going to be a good match!”