[11] Victor Crouin (FRA) 3-0 [15] Fares Dessouky (EGY) 11-3, 12-10, 11-7 (43m)
I was expecting a long, gruelling 5-setter tonight between those two. Especially as Hesham Attar, Fares new mentor, was present at the back, along with Mr and Mrs Dessouki (the players were allowed three guests only).
I know that Fares enjoys working with Hesham – who doesn’t?? – who brings him the discipline he needs. So I was expecting a big battle tonight.
Well, it really didn’t start well for the Egyptian. 5/1, 7/2, 11/3 in 12m. 5 unforced errors from Fares, who looked tired from the middle of the game. The rallies were very long, but Fares is fit. Not sure what happened there. I know that Victor made him to a lot of work but still…
The second game is much much better from Fearless, who takes the lead from 4/4 to 9/6, then sets up three game ball, 10/7. Victor feels his opponent a bit tired, and gives it a big/quick push, and scores 5 points in a row to clinch that crucial second in 15m.
The pace was pretty high, the rallies explosive, and it looked like Fares needed that game, more mentally than physically I felt.
Five unforced errors from the Egyptian, only 2 for Victor.
The third is dominated by the Frenchman in the middle of the game, 5/2, 7/3, but a nice come back from Fearless, 6/7.
At 9/7, one of the most incredible rallies of the whole event, “epoustouflant”, breathtakingly amazing! With a final crosscourt lob, Victor signs the end of the battle, 10/7, a quick error from the Egyptian to finish – his first of the game…
Victor
“I feel great right now. I feel great having finished it in three games – it would have been tough to lose that one. I was just trying to constantly remind myself of what strategy to use throughout each point. Sometimes I went off that strategy and it was just a matter of accepting it and coming back to the gameplan.
“Last time I played here was in 2019 when I was still in college. It was a different court back then. It’s windy out there, it’s very tricky and it’s always about adapting to the conditions.
“We can enjoy having that view though out in front of us. I know there are a lot of people watching from back home and that support means a lot to me. I enjoyed that battle, so it’s all positive to take into the next round.”
