[8] Nour Heikal (EGY) bt Habiba Hani (EGY) 11-13, 11-7, 11-13, 11-6, 11-9 (57m)
A lot of atmosphere, typical All Egyptian Match, with shouting, arms in the air, discussions… it went to the wire, 9/9 in the 5th, as it does…
Nour : Habiba is a good friend of mine, we play in the same club in Smouha, in Alexandria. We know each other’s game really well and it was all mental again.
I really pushed hard. I had a conflict in my head. I had some pressure this week because the three players I faced were younger players. But then again, my dad just survived a car crashed, I have been injured for two weeks, so I’m not that prepared either. So no pressure on me, and I told myself, just give it all, you’ve got nothing to lose.
She lost focus at times, and so did I. What got me back is my coach really calming me down. “Why are you so nervous” he told me, “why do you hit the ball so hard, it’s not even getting to the back of the court. Relax a bit, stop shouting, stop talking the ref and focus. Just be calm.”
And that I think made the difference.
I’m going to play in a Diamond, yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I’m like over the moon, cause this is my second world tour event ever. I feel I could be a good competitor for the top players, I’m not that far from them, and I could be a good challenge for them.
