Round Two (top half) :

[3] Alison Waters (Eng) 3-1 [16] Habiba Mohamed (Egy)
               11/8, 11/7, 11/13, 11/8 (53m)

[7] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) 3-1 [Q] Mariam Metwally (Egy)
               11/13, 13/11, 11/7, 11/9 (45m)

[1] Nicol David (Mas) 3-0 [11] Nouran Gohar (Egy) 
                13/11, 11/3, 12/10 (40m)
               
[5] Nour El Tayeb (Egy) 3-1 [Q] Kanzy El Dafrawy (Egy)
                 11/6, 10/12, 11/7, 11/7 (52m)

First four quarter-finalists decided
quick roundup - full reports to follow ...

England's Alison Waters booked the first spot in the Alexandria International quarter-finals with a tough four-game win over Egypt's World Junior champion Habiba Mohamed.

Waters took the first two games, then clawed back from 1-7 in the third to earn two match balls before a typically determined show from Habiba pulled a game back. The Englishwoman was in charge throughout the fourth though despite a late comeback from Mohamed.

In the first of two all-Egyptian matches it was the experienced Omneya Abdel Kawy who overcame a good challenge from young qualifier Mariam Metwally. The first two game were close, and shared, Omneya controlled the third then came from 1-6 down in the fourth to clinch a quarter-final place.

Top seed and world champion, returning to the country where she won her eighth title in December, Nicol David beat another young Egyptian, Nouran Gohar although it was far from easy. Trailing 6-10 in the first and 2-6 in the third David nevertheless won in straight games 13/11, 11/3, 12/10.

The last match of the day was another all-Egyptian affair with fifth seed Nour El Tayeb taking on qualifier Kanzy El Dafrawy. All four game were well contested, but it was Tayeb who was able to capitalise on good starts in the first, third and fourth - despite Kanzy's considerable efforts - to book her place in the last eight.

Action continues on Sunday evening with four matches in the bottom half of the draw.
 

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[3] Alison Waters (Eng) 3-1 [16] Habiba Mohamed (Egy)
               11/8, 11/7, 11/13, 11/8 (53m)

Waters battles through to quarters

Not the squash we wanted to see. Making a long story short, far too many decisions and far too physical.

Habiba is a very lovely 16 year old off court, already 18 in the world, not to mention Junior World Champion. She is very strong physically, she can really punish that ball and is truly one of the most spirited/fighter/determined girls on the tour.

I truly like and admire the fighting spirit she displays, but she needs in my opinion to concentrate on her accuracy – not over hitting the ball - on going to the ball and not straight to her opponent, and on making sure she is not playing Wall of China.

She has enough talent to impose her game, so I hope she will in the future make sure we notice her for her squash, and nothing else.

Alison took the first two games, then clawed back from 1-7 in the third to earn two match balls before a typically determined show from Habiba pulled a game back, saving two match balls in the process.

The Englishwoman was in charge throughout the fourth, 6/0, though despite a late comeback from Mohamed at 5/6. Alison finally closed it down 10/7 to take the game and match 11/8 on a nth no let…

"I had never played Habiba before, but I had seen her play, and I knew how she plays, I knew what to expect.

"It’s never going to be easy to play against her, there are a lot of decisions, not fluid squash, I just tried to keep to my game, stay focus and concentrated, and not worry about what she was doing.

"It’s a great setting here at the Bibliotica, we are having a great tournament, there is a great atmosphere!"

[7] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) 3-1 [Q] Mariam Metwally (Egy)
               11/13, 13/11, 11/7, 11/9 (45m)

Ups and Downs….

What a close match, and yet, it was a bit of a mental rollercoaster I felt… Both girls seems to drift in and out at times, a bit of a weird/intense/nowritingonthewall for most of the match!

First game couldn’t have been closer, not more than a point from 2/2 to 11/11 really, I kid you not. Equal number of unforced errors in that opening game, only a stroke and a perfect length forehand drive to decide the winner at the end, 13/11 to Mariam.

The second is different. Playing far too much to the front, Mariam opens the court to SkillFull Omneya, 8/4 10/6 for the Cairo lady. Annnd that’s when the Alex young student decides to find her length while Omneya focus wobbles. 10/10, 11/11, Omneya clinching that crucial game, 13/11.

Omneya dominates the third, from 4/4 she takes the lead 8/5, 11/7, but we thought we could be in for a 5th when Mariam took a great start 6/1!

A few uncharacteristic unforced errors led us to believe she got a bit tired then, back at 6/6. 8/8. 9/9. It’s a toss of a coin. A beautiful backhand redrop and a backhand drop shot later, Omneya is in the quarters…

I was sooo up and down, the whole match, I felt like I was the one that won or lost. Don’t misunderstand me, she is a good player, but I was making the errors, and she would score a few points in a row because my head was somewhere else…

The conditions were very humid, hot, the ball became very bouncy, and the shots weren’t not going in like I was expecting them to be.

Thank God I managed to take the 2nd game, it was really crucial, it was so important I would be 1/1 and not 2/0 down, because I knew she would eventually tired down, and not being able to keep that level of squash the whole time. But some of the rallies were really short, serve and 3 shots, so she was able to breathe a bit and get her composure up.

She kept fighting until the end, but I was able to keep in the game and managed to win the last point!
and me, she is a good player, but I was making the errors, and she would score a few points in a row because my head was somewhere else…

The conditions were very humid, hot, the ball became very bouncy, and the shots weren’t not going in like I was expecting them to be.

Thank God I managed to take the 2nd game, it was really crucial, it was so important I would be 1/1 and not 2/0 down, because I knew she would eventually tired down, and not being able to keep that level of squash the whole time. But some of the rallies were really short, serve and 3 shots, so she was able to breathe a bit and get her composure up.

She kept fighting until the end, but I was able to keep in the game and managed to win the last point!

[1] Nicol David (Mas) 3-0 [11] Nouran Gohar (Egy) 
                13/11, 11/3, 12/10 (40m)

Probably the match of the day

I was expecting a big battle. Nouran is one of those players that just raises her game in big settings! In Cairo, she kicked Nour el Sherbini out, at the time Seed 4 of the tournament. She seems to flourish on the glass court and especially in front of her homecrowd. And what a match she did again today.

I don’t think many players could have beaten Nouran tonight. Such an accurate player, hitting so hard, and yet able to find feathery volley drop shots and lethal attacking boasts. And Nic had to work bleeping hard to keep the girl under control.

A very close start, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4. The rallies are long and Nicol is having to work hard. If the rallies are short, Nouran is the winner. 7/4, 8/5, 10/6, Nouran is finding the nicks and lovely lobs. Crowd is truly happy, and maybe the Egyptian became just a bit defensive. Nicol-Awy came to play in the her killer mode and nicks all over the place, the rallies got longer and longer, Nouran didn’t do much wrong, but we were soon back at 10/10. Another game ball (the 5th) thanks to a super kill winner. But Nicol is just too hungry, and she finishes the game with a stunning rally, 13/11.

Can you imagine how hard it must have been for the 17 year old – and already WR16 – to come back and try and play Nicol in that second? Knowing she had 5 opportunities and still didn’t manage to win. She just doesn’t emerge in the second, 11/3 for Nicol.

The third is a completely different gameball altogether. Nouran, back mentally and probably physically too, zooms up to 6/2. Nicol is again coming back in the game, equalising 6/6. 7/7. It’s such a good squash, truly a pleasure to watch. Very few decisions, inventive, intense, Nouran varying her game sooo well, and Nicol springing all over the court like a 16 years old, retrieving everything, and or forcing an error from her opponent, or finishing (eventually) the point with a lovely nick… Superb display from both girls. Nicol seems to take the advantage, 9/7, but Nouran is a fighter, 9/9. She saves a first match ball, equalises at 10/10, but cannot saves the second one, and after a very very very long rally, she finally bows 12/10….

She is such a competitor, such a fighter, it was really a good match. On that court, she came on fire really, whereas I was taking a bit of time to find my groove, first day on the glass. I eventually found it at the end of the game. Was I 10/6? I didn’t realise that. I just knew I had to make it harder for her, and I knew she would probably try and take her chances. So I just tried and clean out my game, that got me to win that opener, and I took that energy in the second.

I felt from that point on that she could feel she could take a point here and there, but I was more in control. But I started playing too many angles, opening the court too much, that gave her a few opportunities. And when she had that lead at the end, I knew I shouldn’t give her anything in the middle anymore.

The crowd here is very knowledgeable, and you feel their appreciation, for either player; And that’s when you know you are playing good squash. I feed from that energy here, I like playing here in Egypt, because you just want to keep that good level of squash up. Plus, the Malaysian crowd really was amazing as ever, they did give me that extra push on those big points.

This is not my first time here, I came here 12 years ago, but it’s so different now. I think that waterfront is so spectacular, one of the top 5 spot for squash, you cannot beat that view, it’s amazing!!!

[5] Nour El Tayeb (Egy) 3-1 [Q] Kanzy El Dafrawy (Egy)
                     11/6, 10/12, 11/7, 11/7 (52m)

Nour So Relieved

I was there yesterday when Kanzy told a stunned Nour that she would be her next opponent. And believe me, Nour was not a happy bunny. Those two are such good friends. And there is not an ounce of nastiness in either player, and they both knew it was going to be a hard one to get up for and all aggressive…..

Kanzy I felt took a little time to get used to the glass court. If Nour was in control in the first game, the Trinity Girl took a bit of adjustment and came back firing in the second, 4/1, 6/3, 8/5 diving as she always do – I soooooo admire her style, it’s amazing to see those girls being so athletic, like Nicolette for example.

Kanzy managed to keep her lead till the end, 10/8. A little clip of the tin, 9/10. A gigantic rally, a big Yalla from Nour, and we are back at 10/10. But Kanzy, supported by her clan, clinches her fist twice after a superb drop shot to get the game on her third game thanks to a nice deep drive, 12/10. We are 1/1.

Ali is slightly nervous by then, but makes sure his fiancée doesn’t see it. Every time she tins the ball, or loses the point, he is positive, and thumbs up, reassures her it’s all going to be alright isA…

And the third again, a good start from Kanzy, 3/1. But this time, it’s point for point, 3/3, 4/4, 5/5. Nour seems to take control then, , 8/5, 9/6, thanks to 3 tins at crucial times, and it’s 11/7 for Nour.

Yet again 3/0 for Kanzy in that fourth – once she is rested between the game, she is more lethal - but Nour catches up at 4/4, and from that moment on, will always be in front, 7/5, 9/6, 11/7. A very relieved Nour rejoices with her family while an extremely disappointed Kanzy takes comfort with hers….

That’s the latest I EVER played squash! It’s what, 11.30pm!!! It was the longest day ever. I had practice, then I have lunch. Then I had another lunch. Then I had a three hours nap. Yes, THREE hours!!!

No, I didn’t want to play Kanzy. We're good friends and practice a lot together, so it was a little strange to play her in a match like this. It was tough. She is such a good player, she dives on court all the time, and the worst thing is that you think you have won the point, so your mind just switches off, and she dives, or moves sooo fast, and she gets it back, but you’re gone mentally. That’s the hardest.

I told Ali at the end of the first, I feel I am relaxing, and it didn’t fail, I relaxed during the second, and she was just too good. But in the other games, it was really close up to 5/5, 6/6, and then she was getting just a bit tired.

It was tough, I'm just delighted to be in the quarters in such an amazing venue, in Egypt, in a major tournament. It’s good to go by my seeding, so now I can relax, and play the squash I can play, play the squash I want to play, and Inshallah my parents will be back on Monday to see me play…

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