Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 3-1 Mariam Metwally (EGY) 15-13, 7-11, 11-2, 11-7 (41m)
Not much love lost between those two Egyptians. Very different attitude on court, Mariam is fiery and makes her opinion very clear to the ref when she doesn’t like a decision, and she rarely does… While Fayrouz keeps everything to herself, and seem to focus on her game.
First game is in my opinion crucial as Mariam quite logically set up game ball 10/8, having been dominating clearly the opener. But the young Egyptian – yes, she is only 18, God bless her – clawed back, saved 4 game balls before clinching the crucial game on her second attempt.
A excellent response from Mariam, 11/7 in 7m, but she didn’t seem to show up at all in the 3rd, which gave her opponent full confidence. A close 4th, up the 6/5, but Fayrouz got a few decisions – that Mariam didn’t like AT ALL – and the youngster was able to close the match 11/7 in 8m.
[/su_quote]Fayrouz : During a match, we get more excited, the adrenalin is running high. Mariam is such a good player, so talented, and also so experienced. Earlier today, I was reading her bio, she played about the double of my matches and my tournaments! So I had to cope with her experience in my game today.
Finding myself 10/8 down against such an experienced played is NOT EASY. I was trying to stick to the plan, as I sort of lost it a bit in the middle of the game. Things got better when I got back on track, patient, and work on my accuracy. And at the end, it was all about mental, 12/12, 13/13…
I didn’t play my best squash today, but I fought in a very respectful and fair way. I’m glad to get through the first round of the first tournament of the season, especially as it’s a new major.
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