Sana Ibrahim (EGY) 3-0 Marie Stephan (FRA) 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 (33m)
Sana
I won today, more because I am physically strong than actually for my squash.
I was so nervous, it’s my first match since the Worlds last year, I have had a very tear in my shoulder, that got worse and worse last year as I was told that I could keep on playing by a doctor, whereas I should have stopped really.
I finished the season losing againt Torrie Malik in the Worlds. After that, the doctor told me to stop completely squash for two months, I was not allowed to even hold a racquet. I worked very hard to lose weight without playing, trying to not lose muscles.
So my last match of the season is a very bad memory for me. And today, I was so nervous, I tried to shake it once I got on court. But in the first game, I kept hitting the tin, which didn’t help settling my nerves!!
I finally played at the back of the court, retrieving and running a lot, because she played some really good shots. That’s why today, I feel I won the match on physicality, and not thanks to my squash. I’m so happy my hard work is paying off, I changed my fitness coach, I worked on my nutrition, and that’s probably I am faster on court.
