[7] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) 3-1 Georgia Adderley (SCO) 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 (50m)
Rowan was a bit nervous today, playing “one of the fittest players on the Tour”. And especially one who never says die, who spends her life flying and diving all over the court, Paul Coll, hold my beer.
Rowan was grateful to her coach Wael El Hindi for supporting her today, when she fell into the trap of playing her opponent’s squash. And from the third on, she find her attacking game again, forcing the young Scot to make an awful lot of work, and forcing her few errors out of her racquet.
“I needed a match like that”, concluded Rowan. It was a fair, intense and very watchable match, good entertainment…. Good match.
This rally was epic! 🤩@rowanelarabyy had to work hard to force the error out of @G_Adderley01 🥵
Watch live: https://t.co/CFAPynJ9ZU#EgyptianOpen pic.twitter.com/ylRZV6i8ce
— SQUASHTV (@SquashTV) September 2, 2024
Rowan : I was a bit nervous today playing Georgia because I know how good of a player she is. She is one of the fittest players on the Tour. So playing such a player who is not in the top 11 is actually very tricky, because you never get to win easy points.
When a player has got that physicality, their mind is strong, they will keep pushing.
So it was not in any way easy today. I had to keep fighting. I had to keep myself composed in any way possible. And although Wael kept on telling me what to do, and I had a plan in my mind, I watched her play, and I played with her a couple of times, I just didn’t know how to handle her today. Because he has improved so much, she is getting better and better every time I play her.
I’m really happy with the way I fought today. I’m really happy with the way I kept pushing, I kept playing well. Actually, I needed a match like this, especially in the first tournament of the season. Because the nerves are always there, you don’t know what to expect from yourself.
I’m really proud of myself. I know I’m not there yet on where I want to be. I’m proud of myself for showing up every day in training, trying to be better, not only for myself but also for the people around me.
I’m really enjoying my squash at the moment, I’m finding my identity more and more every time I step on court, and that’s the most important thing for me at the moment. I don’t want to lose my identity. I don’t want to be playing like everyone else. And that’s Wael kept telling me today, cause in the second game, I kept playing HER game, and I was dragged into the physical and lengthy rallies. So I’m really glad I had Wael today to remind me who I am and what to do, to not lose my identity, and play my game.
