[wc] Adam Hawal (Egy) 3-1 [3] Paul Coll (Nzl) 3-11, 11-9, 13-11, 12-10 (68m)
Just in case you missed Adam upsetting the seeding yesterday against Curtis Malik, just have a quick look.
I know Adam very well, bless him. But did I believe he could take a game from Paul? Probably not.
So when he did, I was next door, watching Farida against Lauren, and I thought, right, let’s go and watch it, might as well, as I had decided not to go to the Pyramides and let Jonathan cover the glass.
Adam had lost the first game comprehensively, 11/3 in 9m. Did Paul relax a bit? Adam clinched the second 11/9 in 12m. Not long in Paul’s world. So the young man must have been attacking well.
I arrive at 9/6 for Adam in the third. Saying that the atmosphere was electric is an euphemism. Very respectful though. Nothing like a roaring crowd, but the support for Adam – in particular from Omar, his little brother – played a huge role I’m sure.
Paul clawed back to 9/9, then set up a game ball (which was probably a match ball, had he took it), 10/9. The young Egyptian saves it at the back of the court, 10/10. Adam tries several times to get and clean his glasses, ‘it’s not my problem, it’s your problem’ goes the ref. Paul never got a second chance at closing the game, and it took Adam two attempts more but he did clinch it, 13/11, in 27m.
Well, we thought – well I did – it was a good performance but 17 years old, a 27m game, against Superman, this is going to five and in Paul’s direction.
And it looked like I was correct in my assomption when Paul went up 6/3. From that point on, we had a few decisions which, from the position I was in, looked not the correct ones. And I’m not saying that it was done in purpose, but it seemed to go in the Egyptian’s direction. Again, I’m not saying that it was deliberate AT ALL. Just little errors here and there I felt were putting Paul under more pressure he should have been.
Still. The young man went and got the points out of the New Zealander’s racquet, again and again. Clawing back 6/6, he didn’t panick when Paul got the lead again, 9/7, game ball after a stroke, 10/8.
With two strokes in his favour this time, Adam saved those two game balls, 10/10. A very harsh no let against Paul got him to be Conduct Warned for dissent – looked like a simple let to me.
11/10, match ball. Court is slippery, the cleaners are called again and again, a let for Paul that coud have been a stroke in his favour, but the Egyptian finishes the game and match with a deep to the back winner, 12/10, 15m game.
Paul not exactly overjoyed breaks his racquet against the left wall, while Adam sends his racquet flying away…
Adam
I didn’t believe I could beat him, and 
“I can’t believe I beat him, he’s a very good player.
He’s an amazing player, he is a legend, and a tremendous player, on and off the court. I talked to him this morning and I can’t believe it!
I planned the match very carefully with coach Karim Darwish, who was coaching Ali who had so many huge matches against Paul. So he devised a plan for me not to get too excited trying to keep up with him, waste too much energy and run out of gas after the first game.
So I tried and attacked more, I had nothing to lose. After that first game, I just thought I’m going to put 100 per cent effort in, I was jumping on every ball, and it paid off.
So grateful to my parents, to my little brother Omar, the upcoming champ, and my friend Sherif, for supporting me every match.
I was just a little kid watching this tournament at the pyramids, and it’s such a privilege to play there. The ancient pyramids are in our DNA, and I get to be a Pharaoh tomorrow!
Listen to the Post match interview
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