[15] Sana Ibrahim (EGY) 3-2 Melissa Alves (FRA) 11-6, 5-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5 (61m)
This was the state of affair before the match started.
Melissa confident, you would be with Stats like that, but Sana completely paralysed by fear today, until the 4th, when she found herself back to the wall. Suddenly, it was like the weight lifted, and she started to go for her shots, instead of trying to contain Melissa’s game, which is very similar to hers: lovely volley drop shots and long drop shots, great lob, solid basic game, and physical patience.
I have to say I’m happy with the changes Sana did to her physical training. 18months ago, she wasn’t fit enough to impose herself at the top of the game. But now, I feel she can.
The third could have been fatal to the Egyptian, mentally I mean, as she was up 4/1, but couldn’t contain Melissa’s beautiful short game to make a lot of damage, and the French lady closed it 11/8 in 14m.
As I mentioned, momentum is with Melissa up to 4/1 in the 4th, and in only two hands, out of the blue, Sana finds her freedom and her squash, 11/5 in 6m, and flies through the 5th, 9/4, 11/5.
Sana
I was so nervous today! When I saw the draw, it was a very tough match, because it’s not just about the physicality or squash, it’s more about mentality.
I’m in the top 20 and I want to be top 10. Why not? I feel like I’m really, really close.”
Listen/Watch to the full postmatch interview
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
