[2] Diego Elias (PER) 3-1 [11] Victor Crouin (FRA) 5-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6 (58m)
What a start from Victor, the only player who managed to ‘steal’ a game from Mighty Diego on this event. And how he did it! 4/0, 7/3, 9/4, 11/5 in 13m. With a great help from Diego, offering his opponent 8 points, bless him (6 errors, conceided 2 strokes).
The second is the turning point. Who knows what would have happened had the Frenchman taken the second, and led 2/0?…
A good start from Diego, 5/1, 6/3, 9/4. Who then decides to give a bit of running to his opponent, lobbing again and again. It worked in a way as it really tire Victor but it nearly cost him the game as Victor levelled 9/9, 5 points in a trot.
But Diego reassesses at the crucial time, and it’s 11/9 for the World Champion, 18m hard work.
Victor doesn’t turn up in the 3rd, 7/0, 11/3 in 8m.
Exhausted, the Frenchman still found some pride/energy from 2/9 down to only bow 11/6, ending on an error, 10m last game.
Victor
As I was telling my dad between games, I know what I need to do – I know I need to keep it simple, because if I go for the attack too early, I just end up doing even more running. Keeping it simple would have given me the openings, especially since at times he can be a bit careless with his own game, and that’s exactly when you need to take your chances.
I did manage to find that simplicity at times in the third and fourth games, even though I was really exhausted by then.
I told my dad that it’s rare for me to start a match with that much intensity. It wasn’t necessarily fast-paced squash, but the intentions were right.
Unfortunately, like often, after winning the first game I wanted to push too hard, and that’s when I stopped thinking about sticking to the strategy. He made me run once, twice, three, four times, and that’s when I realised I was really running on empty.
And once you’re burnt out, it’s tough to keep the same quality in your attacking shots. Even if I had one good attack, I didn’t have that second follow-up to finish the rally anymore.
It’s more experience gained, and something that will help me a lot going forward. Same with the ball change in the third – making the request a split-second earlier, or one step sooner, could have avoided any controversy.
It’s all experience. I’m not far off, and I try to fight until the end, even when it’s tough. A really positive first tournament of the season – now it’s about keeping the momentum going.
Listen to Diego chatting to PSA
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Diego
“I’m happy that I’m through, Victor played well but I’m just happy that I went through despite not feeling my best.”
“I knew the things I was doing wrong and in-between games I had a chat with my dad and he said the same things that I was thinking so I tried to change a little bit and it worked.
“I think it’ll be great. We’ve been playing big matches for the past few years and hopefully tomorrow is another great one.”
