Juan Vargas (Col) 3-2 [Q] Ibrahim Elkabbani (Egy) 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 2-11, 11-5 (65m)
Juan : It was not easy. It was anything but easy. First round, tough match. I think there’s always a lot of nerves in the first round, and I knew he was coming from qualifying, so he’d be quite confident, with nothing to lose, hungry, and knowing the courts, having already played on them.
So I felt the pressure of “I have to win this match.” I was quite tense for most of the match, but I’m really happy that I pulled through.
I just kept trying to take it one point at a time. Even in the fifth, when I was down 5-2, I kept saying to myself, “Okay, it’s one by one, you can still get it.” Same when I was 5-0 down: just stick with one point at a time, bring out a bit of your experience, stay calm. And I think it paid off.
I’m playing Soliman next round. It’s a nice feeling, because I think it’s the other way around now: I have nothing to lose, and he’s got the pressure. I’m sure I’ll be much calmer and less nervous tomorrow, so I’m excited.
