So you were busy and you missed our coverage of the qualifications? A little summarise of what you didn’t know you needed to know about the Egyptian Open first three days
Great hotel
We are back to the Hyatt Centric, which welcomed us during Palm Hills. I did a little article about them then, and I haven’t changed my mind. It’s a great, perfect hotel for the likes of me.
People are helpful, smiling, young and kind. It’s easy to get things done, they are so happy to help you with whatever your request would be. I strongly recommend them.
Owest
Last year, we “opened” the Squash Centre, with the water being connected to the WC the day the tournament started. We were a bit in the middle of nowhere, with no Uber or any deliveries possible as Google didn’t recognise where we were.
A year later, it hasn’t changed much, we are still in the middle of a no Googleland, but this time round, we have food, drinks, and a little stand with plenty of sweets, crisps, bars, you know… And guess where I put my desk? Oh yes.
Latest Players News
Well, we need to start a collection for Ibrahim Elkabani for a razor, as that moustache is beyond belief, and has to go.
Very happy to see Aramex/DPD sponsoring Rowan Damming spelt in Arabic.
Makes complete sense for a Squash Player audience, doesn’t it?
Zeina Mickawee got married this summer and is here with her husband, Moey Moustafaa. More on that soooooon
Two English ladies lost their matches against food poisoning. Asia Harris finished her match and saved 5 match balls before bowing, while poor Alicia Mead, who finally got her first win in Egypt, was again sick again, right before going on court, and logically, couldn’t perform at all.
Emotions you missed
We had some great encounters during those three days, but mostly, I am always in awe when I see young players making it to the ‘big boys round’.
It was nice to meet with Matthew Lai, from Hong Kong – all of the Hong Kong squash community seems to be here, so nice to see them all, about 10 Hong Kong players/officials in Cairo – 26, who managed to beat compatriot [4] Henry Leung, then Canadian/Egyptian Salah Eltorgman, and to finish a very tough match against former World Junior Champ Rowan Damming.
Talking of Rowan, read what he said about having to battle his emotions, it’s an interesting quote I feel.
Another great spell of emotions for young Spanish Ivan Perez, what passion, what power, what a great friend – he actually helped mate Matias Knusden to get through an epic match against Simon Herbert.
Ivan went through a ‘weird match’ as he said himself against Portuguese Sui Ruarez, then Balazs Farkas #2, and the last one, against Yannick Wilhelmi, who deserved so much to be in the draw. And he is now, thanks to Ramit Tandon injury, as a LL.
A thought for Nardine Garas, who had to play three compatriots – and we know what it means to play young hungry Egyptians on home soil! First Nadien Elhammamy, who beat her a few days before, then Hana Ismail, and very powerful Habiba Hani to finish!
I kept the best for last, emotions-wise, that is.
Matias Knudsen, bless him sweat-transparent short in round two, will stay for me the image of the qualifications. No, not because of the short, but because of the intensity of his matches.
Playing a good friend, a very good friend, is never easy, but when that friend happens to be Moustafa Elsirty, and that you are two tall, intense, passionate, talented and powerful players, you have an incredible intensity match – just have a look at the photos…
Q2: Mathias upset the Egyptian Crowd in 86m, 14/12 in the 5th….
And the last match, the final, against Simon Herbert... After his gigantic match the night before, I thought that the Colombian would not be able to push in the decider, but he did. That was another intense match, and commiserations to English Herbert, who deserves to be in the main draw, as Matias himself said…
Q3: Patrick contains Yassin 3/0 – Incredible push from Matias against Simon, 3/2 – again
And to finish, have a look at the great photos I picked for you, out of several brilliant photographers….
