Melissa Alves (FRA) 3-1 Ka Yi Lee (HKG) 6-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-5 (39m)
A bit of a slow start for Melissa – a bit careful with her shoulder as she is under treatment – while Ka Yi played superb squash. A good comeback in the next three games for the French, who was able to power through the rallies and put a lot of pressure onto the fair and discreet Hong Kong player.
PSA: Melissa Alves was another player who was forced to come from behind, with the French World No.25 surviving a scare against Hong Kong, China’s World No.42 Ka Yi Lee in the opening match of the day. Lee went a game up and led in game two, before Alves struck back, with the 30-year-old impressing as she recorded a 6-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-5 win in 39 minutes.
Melissa : It didn’t start off in the best way, but when you remember that you chose to be there, you have to go all in. Actually, it’s fear—the fear of not being able to play well, the fear of not performing as you want to. It’s the athlete’s ego that says, “Ah, I can’t do it.” And then you remember that the season is starting, that there are points to be won, that the other girls are desperate for victory, but so are you!
Once I let go of the emotions a bit, it got much better. I’m really glad to have the team with me—Yann Menegaux and the French physio—because I think it would have been tough on my own. And also the guys who encouraged me a lot, Toufik Mekhalfi and Edwin Clain.
And in the third set, Raneem, my close friend, shows up. And you don’t lose in front of Raneem, Shahir, and Mourad. IMPOSSIBLE.
I’m just happy. There’s no tactic; it’s all about the mindset. You just have to go for it. She’s someone I’ve beaten several times before, so on paper, I’m the favorite. She played very well, with a clearly well-structured tactical plan, perfectly executed. All the credit goes to her. In the first game, it’s not just that I had a tough start—it’s mostly that she played really well.
I’m really, really happy to have gotten through this.
