|
|
|
TODAY in Hurghada
Daily reports from the Hurghada International |
Egyptian Clean Sweep in Hurghada
The men's first round concluded
this evening, down by the Red Sea, and it was an Egyptian clean
sweep as the number one, three and five seeds were joined in the
quarter-finals by teenage sensation Mohamed El Shorbagy
who ousted Ong Beng Hee in a five-game thriller, meaning that
the crowd will have four all-Egyptian quarter-finals to
enjoy over the next two days ...
[3] Karim Darwish (Egy) bt Davide Bianchetti (Ita)
11/7, 11/7, 8/11, 11/6 (61m)
[1] Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [Q] Amr Mansi (Egy)
11/4, 12/10, 11/8 (29m)
Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egy) bt [6] Ong Beng Hee (Mas)
2/11, 12/10, 6/11, 11/8, 11/8 (88m)
[5] Mohammed Abbas (Egy) bt Omar Elborolossy
(Egy) 11/7, 11/7, 11/8
(38m) |
 |
|
[3] Karim Darwish (Egy) bt Davide Bianchetti (Ita)
11/7, 11/7,
8/11, 11/6 (61m)
DAVIDE, SO CLOSE…
 With
a Karim Darwish not in top conditions to perform (warm, very
warm conditions), hence making a few uncharacteristic unforced
errors, David truly started to believe he had a chance.
And the Italian came close to it today, close to beating Karim
on home soil. Patient, relentless at the back, precise at the
front, he missed a few shots here and there, counter-attacked a
bit too short a few times, but the difference between him taking
one of the first games, and not taking them, was immense.
Karim is such a determined player. Aware that he was not in a
perfect day, he speeded up the pace, covered a lot of ground,
and found some pretty good angle shots.
Davide, forced to take the ball very early to have any impact on
the encounter, had to make a lot of “guesses”, got it right a
few times, but also got it wrong, to the delight of a numerous
lively crowd, and to the despair of Davide’s support clan.
When I told you earlier it was only going to be his father
behind him, I couldn’t have been more wrong! A nest of Italians
invaded the seats, with banners and all, and their loud support
I’m sure must have warmed up the Italian’s heart.
In passing, we had an excellent referee today, not only on the
decision side, but also on the psychological side. He was able
to contain the Flamboyant Italian, by speaking to him calmly, at
the right time, and giving him the right warning or penalty, at
the right time. I’m sure Davide won’t agree there, but from
where I stand, it was obvious how patiently clever that official
was.
There is a reason for that, I’m told, as he used to coach Davide.
It all makes sense now, doesn’t it…
|
 Maybe
I was a bit nervous at the start, but the problem was more the
conditions of the court, very hot, very bouncy, and I wasn’t
able to feel the ball and adjust my shots, and that’s why my
shots were not very good.
Davide played very well today, I thought he was more accurate
than me. But it was the first match for a long time (our last
tournament was in Virginia), so after such a long interruption,
I was expecting not to be at my best…
I hope that tomorrow, I’ll be used to the conditions, and find
my accuracy…
 |
|
 |
 Because
I train with him every day, I had a bit more confidence that I
normally would playing the world number one, because I’m used to
his very fast pace, and all match long, I was trying not to give
anything away, and keep it tight to the wall, I know what he can
do with the ball!
I’m satisfied with the way I played today, but now I want to
train even more to climb up the rankings. I want to thank God
for this victory, and I’m so looking forward to my next match…
 |
[1] Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [Q] Amr Mansi (Egy)
11/4, 12/10, 11/8 (29m)
 I’ve
got to stop training with people, and start training on my own,
my coaching partners give me too much trouble!
Amr called me about six weeks ago, and told me he wanted to
train, and that’s what we’ve done, hard training, every day, I
practically live in his house, we go and have lunch and back to
training again.
And it was a very good thing for both of us, and it was very
beneficial for him too, look at the results he just had, beaten
the guys in the qualifiers, and getting to the first round.
He played very well today too, and he got me worried in the
second, you know, when you are at game ball, the other guy just
goes for it, and that’s what Mansi did, thank God I was able to
finish it off eventually…
 |
 |
|
Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egy) bt [6] Ong Beng Hee (Mas)
2/11, 12/10, 6/11, 11/8, 11/8 (88m)
USUAL STORY…
Tonight,
we had two magicians of the racquet on court. Two wizards who
enchanted us with a fast pace, lovely hands, and made the front
left corner the place to be! Around 80% of the shots were played
there, the reflexes of both guys were just astonishing, both
trying to pass the other… Honestly, it looked like fireworks in
Wimbledon doubles Final!
If Bengy’s got the accuracy and the finesse of a lace
maker, Mohamed possesses a superb hit as well, that gives him
the edge at some crucial times, allowing him more choices, and
some breathing time as well when needed.
Both players retrieved superbly tonight, both attacked
wonderfully too. But if I tell you that from 8/3 up in the
fourth, a few points away from the match, against a very tired
opponent, Bengy made eight tins to lose the game, you’ll say to
me “Self Destruct Button” has been hit yet again. And in the
fifth, he was up 6/2, will be caught up at 7/7, 8/8, to finally
bow to an opponent who so wanted to win in front of his crowd…..
He must hate himself… |
 |
|
 "I
was very nervous today at the start of the match, exactly as I was
in Canary Wharf. But the difference today, I had my family and my
brother to support me. He told me to stay concentrated, that I had
nothing to lose, and to be patient, patient, patient and again
patient…. He also advised me to take him on the volley backhand, and
that’s what I did.
"In the fourth, I was 2/1, 8/3 down, and very tired, so I told myself
no more risk, don’t play any shots near the tin, be very patient.
And the incredible happened, he lost his concentration completely,
it was very strange..
"In the fifth, I knew he was not going to lay down, I saw him recently
play a five setter against Omar Abdel Aziz, he never gave up. And he
made an excellent start, went up 7/3, and again, he lost his
concentration. Me, I kept it tight, only took the risk when the
opportunity presented itself, and once again, I came back…
"I still can’t believe I’ve won, and that I’m going to play the world
Champion next round! It will be a fantastic experience for me,
especially before the world juniors.
"And I’m just going to enjoy it…"
 |
|
 |
|
"It's been a long time
without matches, because I’ve been injured for so long. I didn’t
know what to expect today, if I was going to be able to finish the
match, or going to have to retire again…I’m happy with the way I
played today, and really looking forward to the next match….
"I went to the states a few months ago with Shabana, played two
tournaments out there, and then, I started having problems with my
right heel. And then, I was playing Lincou in Boston, and I actually
twisted my ankle, and that was the end…
"I don’t know what it is, I’m training like the other guys, but I
just seem to get injured like every other month, not sure if it’s my
body that cracks up because I’m pushing it too hard, or if it’s in
my head.
"But I’m really looking forward to playing a whole tournament without an
injury, and not seeing a doctor before I go…"
 |
|
 |
|
HURGHADA, HERE WE COME…
 I
must say that transferring from Cairo to Hurghada was, although
extremely well organised, a bit of an adventure. First, paying
your hotel bill as another 15 players/official do so when only
one poor Agent In Charge is behind the desk was rather
interesting for the nerves.
Then, realising that my camera battery charger had disappeared
from my room/bag (we’ll never know what happen with that one, I
was left with just the electric cable…), around 10mn because
boarding on the bus to the airport on the way to a holiday
resort was not the best of timing.
Thank God, Complete Legend Cubbins had the luminous idea to ask
Jos Aarts, referee and photographer, who intends to come and
visit the tournament during his holidays, to buy us one. And
although I won’t be able to do any photos today (battery died
upon my arrival on the glass court this morning), everything
should be back to normal tomorrow, inshallah.
But all that was forgotten thanks to the laughs on the bus/plane
with the boys/girls, and it has to be stressed that we all
looked more like kids going to a holiday camp than serious
professionals on the way to work….
But now, it’s time to get down to business…
The Sinbad Club is a large, sunny and airy holiday resort, where
most of the clients seem to be German or Russian. It took me a
while to understand why all the lovely staff kept on greeting me
with a “Guten Morgen” (apologies to our German Readers, not a
clue how to spell it), but once into the breakfast room, the
penny dropped. Lots of animation, kids, colours outfits, very
Occidentalised, in particular for the ladies, a sight for me
surprising in a Muslim country. For our French readers, on
dirait un VVF…. Very relaxed indeed…
Only downside, no internet in the room, which is for me a big
blow, as I normally work virtually at all hours. But the media
room will be open as long as M. Andrew will be awake. So, we
should be OK…
The court, you may ask. Well, you go past the swimming pool, go
outside the security gate, turn left, and there it is, around
200m on the left, at the end of the promenade. I promise you’ll
have a photo tour tomorrow…
I didn’t have the time to go for the pool yet, but tomorrow will
be the day I actually see the sun! Computer will rest, sue me.
Tonight, we’ll start at 6.15 with the TV coverage of the walk on
of all the players onto the court, and then Newly Married Karim
will open the ball with Flamboyant Davide who’ll have the
support of his dad, and that's about it, I would guess… After
that Shabana/Mansi, Bengy/Shorbagy, and last but not least,
Abbas/Elborolossy.
Anyway, it will be the first time the Press is actually covering
the event live, so, we may have a few delay in the transmission
of information. But hey, we’ll see when we climb that Pyramid…
See you later, guys… |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
