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TODAY in Alex -
Tue 9th, Day SIX |
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Semi-Finals:
[7] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) 3-2 [1] Nicol David (Mas)
11/7,
11/7, 8/11, 1/11, 12/10 (65m)
[2] Raneem El Welily (Egy) 3-2 [4] Laura Massaro (Eng)
11/8,
8/11, 11/5, 8/11, 11/5 (62m)
It's an all-Egyptian final !!!
The packed crowd at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina got what they
wanted tonight as home favourites Omneya Abdel Kawy and Raneem
El Welily both won thrilling five-game matches to set up an
all-Egyptian final.
 First
up was Kawy, who hadn't beaten top seed and world number one
Nicol David for 13 years having lost each of their last 23
meetings. What better time to do it than in front of a fervent
home crowd, and what better way than 12-10 in the fifth!
Omneya got the better of the opening games, both close but the
Egyptian finished both the better. David, as she does, mounted a
comeback with the sizeable Malaysian contingent noisily
supporting her.
 David
always led the third, and when she ran away with the fourth the
writing looked on the wall for Kawy. But the decider went point
for point, neither able to break clear, Kawy earning match ball
first at 10-9 but losing it on a stroke.
A dying drive brought up a second and that was all it took as
she finally ended of of Nicol's longest winning runs, and made
the Malaysian wait to notch up her 100th WSA final appearance.
"I can't tell you how happy I am," said Omneya. "I only beat
her once a long time ago and since then she always beat me. I am
flattered with the way I played today. I thought that I really
played very well.
After that fourth, I told myself, now is the time, you give it
all what you have."
 Then
it was the turn of Raneem El Welily, and she too delighted the
crowd with a tough five-game win over long-tine rival Laura
Massaro.
None of the five games were nailbiters, with one or the other
establishing and holding on to a a mid-game lead.
 Welily
led twice, Massaro levelled twice, but in the decider it was the
Egyptian's turn again as she moved from 3-5 down, taking eight
points in a row to ensure that an Egyptian will win the
inaugural Alexandria International.
"It was a long match, a very tough match, match, mentally and
physically," said Raneem. "I didn't think I was as fast as
yesterday and I think we were both feeling the effects of
yesterday's matches.
"It was all about the end of the match and I was glad I was able
to concentrate and push through then. Obviously I'm delighted to
be in an all-Egyptian final, especially with Omneya!"
"I’m so happy Raneem won," added Kawy. "She is my best
friend, she won most of our matches but tomorrow I’m going to
make her life very difficult, she is going to have a bad
experience, and the best player will win!!!"
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I can't tell how happy I am.
I only beat her once back in 2004 or 2008 I don't remember but
it was since long ago, and since then she always beat me.
I hope that this will be the beginning for many victories to
come.
I am flattered with the way I played today. I thought that I
really played very well, and from the first point till the end,
except in the fourth, when Nicol just played so well, and the
ball went dead. I have to admit my head was off, I was not in
the game at all, and I lost the plan that was to keep her deep
at the back.
After that fourth, I told myself, now is the time, you give it
all what you have, all what you can. Just do everything. I’m
glad I asked the ball to be changed. It really worked in my
favour.
This championship came in a perfect time after hard times I had
perfect timing and in Egypt in a perfect place. I love playing
in Egypt because all my team is around me, with me and motivate
me to give everything I could.
It's the last championship in the season and it'll improve my
ranking and next month I will be in the top eight I hope, which
means that my draws will be better next season and I will be
seeded, and it will give me motivation in my preparation next
three months.
I’m so happy Raneem won, it’s an all Egyptian finals. She is my
best friend, we have been playing a lot those past years, she
won most of them, but tomorrow, I’m going to make her life very
difficult, she is going to have a bad experience!!!!
And the best player will win…
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[7] Omneya
Abdel Kawy (Egy) 3-2 [1] Nicol David
(Mas)
11/7,
11/7, 8/11, 1/11, 12/10 (65m)
SUPERB MATCH, TAKE 1 …
We were spoiled today. Whether you were supporting one or the
other, the girls offered us the best advert for squash you could
find. And the Alex crowd was over the moon of course.
 Omneya
I’m told hadn’t won against Nicol since 2002, 13 years, having
lost each of their last 23 meetings.. The odds were not exactly
favourable, now, were they. Plus, the Egyptian had a very tough
match both physically and emotionally in the quarters against
Alison Waters, WR6 but who was WR3 till this month.
Just before the match, a gentleman called Karim asked me “what
is your expectation for this match?” “Anything can happen in
squash”. And it did….
 I
have to stress how beautifully Omneya played today. The first
two games basically, she was concealing her shots so well, Nicol
just couldn’t time her movement – and she is the Queen of that.
On nearly every shot, she appeared to be taking the wrong line,
having to adapt at the last second to manage to hit the ball.
She just couldn’t read the Egyptian game at all. As she was
slightly late, her width was approximate, the ball was arriving
often in the middle, opening the court far too much.
And Omneya was on the War Path tonight. She just couldn’t put a
foot wrong in the first two games, despite a high number of
errors, quite usual for her high percentage style. Nicol was
being Nicol, she was retrieving everything, again and again, one
error in those two games, but just couldn’t prevent Omneya to
adjust her shots. And boy those shots went in nicely….
 At
5/5 in the third, Omneya started to grind to a halt. She still
kept on fighting, but now it was Nicol at the front , and the
Egyptian retrieving, and at 8/8, she just couldn’t run anymore,
Nicol takes that one 11/8.
The fourth, well, Nicol took an excellent start, three unforced
errors in 4 points for Omneya, and from where I stood, at 8/0,
Omneya just wanted to avoid the bagel, and rest to be back for
the fifth…
And that's exactly what happened. With “her team” behind her,
supporting her, shouting for her, she started the decider fully
confident she could win, maybe her hunger second to none. She
wanted to win. Here, in Egypt. And it showed. She was glowing
out there tonight, truly was…
 1/1.
2/2. 3/3. 4/4. 5/5. 6/6. 7/7. 8/8. 9/9. I kid you not. Nicol has
now raised her game, she is more assertive, her length is much
better, stuck to those side walls, but Omneya just won’t fold.
She should be tired. She should be flat. She is bouncing all
over the court, reading Nicol’s shots so well.
With a slam to open an Iron Door, she gets that backhand drive
way out of Nicol’s reach, 10/9, match ball. An immense YALLLA
signals the crowd who goes wild. The next rally is very short,
the ball clips the corner, and it’s a stroke for Nicol, 10/10.
Now it’s the turn of the Malaysian Students to make themselves
heard!
 The
rally of all rallies, stupendous, I can’t breathe, I don’t think
anybody can, and a gigantic backhand crosscourt that dies away,
second match ball. That’s the one. Surely. And it is. Don’t ask
what the shot was. Not a clue.
 I
only see Omneya raising her arms in the air, Nicol looking so
sad, the Governor and all the VIP standing up and clapping, and
the crowd just chanting in the stands.
The kids are now surrounding the Hero, a good dozen of TV
channels are trying to get to the girl. It’s a gigantic queue
waiting to speak to hee.
It’s chaotic. It’s Egypt. It’s Magic. |
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[2] Raneem El
Welily (Egy) 3-2 [4] Laura Massaro (Eng)
11/8,
8/11, 11/5, 8/11, 11/5 (62m)
SUPERB MATCH, TAKE 2
After the emotions of the first match, I was exhausted me! And
it was not the end of the nailbitting stuff I tell you that…
 Laura
had to face the crowd yesterday while playing Nour. And I guess
she knew what was waiting for her. As in, only Danny’s voice to
support her.
Raneem is nervous in the first game, and it shows. Even if she
takes the first three points, she then seems to have her feet
stuck to the ground, like not running for Laura’s great
deceptions. Yes, one thing I’m not sure I made clear yesterday
in my report, Laura here in Egypt has been playing like a
native. She has been redropping superbly, plus found again and
again deceptions that really put both Nour and Raneem under
amazing physical pressure.
 And
at the start of the match, Raneem just couldn’t see them at all.
Laura levels it at 3/3, 4/4, 5/5, 6/6, 7/7, annnnnnd 8/8. Raneem
finds excellent length that give her two game balls, 10/8, game
11/9.
The second is all about Laura taking complete control to start
with, 5/0! Of course, Raneem won’t have it, 5/5. 6/6. But this
time, Laura is just too strong, and too aggressive for the
Egyptian. 9/6, 11/8. The crowd is now frightfully silent.
 Third?
Change of momentum again! Raneem is flying out there, excellent
drives that stick to the wall, moving superbly, reading Laura’s,
and she runs away with the score, 6/1, 7/2, 8/3, 11/5, Laura
just not finding her length at all in this one.
If the English lady lost her way in the previous game, well, she
bleeping find it in the next one! She was in control, again,
from the middle of the game, 4/4, zooms to 9/5! Raneem claws
back, three points, the crowd starts believing in her come back
chances, but an attacking Laura finishes the game, with a huge
COME ON, 11/8….
 The
fifth surprised me. I was expecting a huge battle, and it
started that way, 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, 5/5. But strangely enough, a
bit like Camille yesterday at the same stage of the match, Laura
seemed to lose her way/heart. I say strangely because Laura
never stops. To fight. Ever.
From 3/5, after a marathon-gigantic-stunning rally yet again,
Raneem will just score 8 points in a row, and takes the game and
match 11/5.
It’s an all Egyptian final. Ask me how much the crowd loved it… Disappointed to
lose a close 3-2 battle 2nite in the SF. Tough crowd but plenty
wanting pics after. Holiday now ...
Laura Massaro on Twitter |
What a match, I had to give everything I had. Laura was playing
really well and those boasts were killing me today but that last
game made all the difference. I'm very thankful to be through
today El Hamdullah. I was very tense and wanted to win so badly.
Amazing win for Omneya today words can't describe how proud I am
of her and happy for her this tournament and I can't wait for
our battle tomorrow. She played very well today. I think this is
her best match in this championship or even in her whole career.
I'm happy for her, and happy we're facing each other tomorrow.
Last time it happened was long ago when I faced Nour El Tayeb in
the final of a smaller competition, so I'm happy be reaching the
final with Omneya to make at an all-Egyptian.
I'm sorry I made you all nervous but I was really under heavy
pressure today, but thanks god you didn't go home sad, and I did
it in the end, eventually!
Again a huge thank you for everyone's support!!
Thanks to Amro Fekri for his help with quotes |
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