[1] Nicol David (Mas) 3-2 [10] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy)
              11/9, 9/11, 8/11, 11/5, 11/5 (64m)

[3] Raneem El Welily (Egy) 3-1 [5] Alison Waters (Eng)
              11/6, 11/9, 9/11, 11/5 (48m)

David back in the Final

Nicol David made it through to her eighth World final, but didn't Omneya Abdel Kawy make her work for it !

The top seed started well, leading 5-1, but Kawy found the game that had served her well in previous rounds, started chopping the ball away for winners and putting David under all sorts of pressure.

The Malaysian held on to take the first, but Kawy was in the groove now and took the next two games to the delight of the crowd.

But David regained control from early in the fourth and never looked like relinquishing it as she took the final two games to end Egyptian hopes, at least temporarily.

"Each worlds is a special one," said David, "but this one, in Egypt, for the Egyptians, is pretty special and they really want to do well in front of their country.

"It was a great match, a tough one. Omneya was carried by the crowd today, it was a great atmosphere, I enjoyed every minute of it!!!"



Raneem makes first Final

Raneem El Welily is through to her first World final, having missed out in the semis of the last two editions.

The crowd favourite started well, dominating the first game, and although Alison Waters led in the middle of the second, the crowd favourite powered through to double her advantage.

The celebrations were put on hold as Waters stormed ahead in the third, leading 5-0 and then 10-3. Welily fought back, but at 10-9 Waters volleyed a loose return into the nick to reduce the deficit.

The crowd were only quietened temporarily though, as Welily resumed control from the outset of the fourth, and soon enough Wadi Degla had its finalist.

"I’m very happy, and the people around me make this happy feel ten times stronger," said a delighted winner. "But now, time to stop feeling happy, regroup, and get ready for tomorrow."
 

Tomorrow's final will see David reclaim the title she lost in March and extend her record to eight, or the Wadi Degla crowd will celebrate a first-ever Egyptian champion ... not to be missed ! 

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Each worlds is a special one, but this one, in Egypt, for the Egyptians, is pretty special and they really want to do well in front of their country.

It was a great match, a tough one. Omneya was carried by the crowd today, it was a great atmosphere, I enjoyed every minute of it!!!

I am so proud of my performance, 3/2 against a solid, sharp and composed Omneya, who never let go until the very last end. I was just pleased to stay in the rallies! She was sooooo sharp!!!!

Omneya strides on confidence, and after the third, when she lead 2/1, I really had to work extremely hard to come back in the match.

I just managed to put more purpose in my shots, and got the momentum back. And there were a few shots that were out of reach for her, and she made a few errors. Then I got a lead, and I kept working throughout.

Today, I didn’t manage to have as much purpose in my shots as I would have liked. It’s all credit to the pressure she was putting on the ball. And I told myself, if you want to win this one, you’ll have to raise the level of your game, which is not easy for me….

Impressive Omneya today, very very happy with my win.

[1] Nicol David (Mas) 3-2 [10] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy)
              11/9, 9/11, 8/11, 11/5, 11/5 (64m)

Never in Doubt…

Great thing when the coaches' seats are next to yours, you get to feel the vibes coming from the support camp. And ‘never is doubt’ is not exactly how I would describe how Liz Irving felt during the first three games really.

And that is all credit to Omneya’s incredible talent.

Yes, I know, the people that don’t know much about squash – or Ladies Squash take a glance at her, and say, she doesn’t have the fitness you need at that level.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

It took Nicol four and a half games to start tiring the girl! Because if Omneya doesn’t have the typical outlook of a squash player, she’s got the quickest hand, the sharpest mind, the hardest hit and probably the best anticipation of the women’s game.

First game, a bit nervous she was, like the previous day against Wee Wern, she went down 4/0 thanks to a three unforced errors, before scoring 5 points in a row. The game balanced out, 6/6, 7/7, 8/8. Nicol was dominating the rallies, but you could feel Omneya tuning her shots. And if Nicol get the opening game, it’s only just, 11/9, with a tin of Omneya to finish.

In the second, Omneya showed why she is number 10 and a former top 4. Every shot she played had a purpose. Length was perfect. Her volleying amazingly sharp and sudden. It was a pure joy to see how easy she made it look. And Nicol could only react.

The pace was so fast, rallies were ridiculous, and Omneya didn’t feel any pressure. And after an excellent start from Nicol, 4/1, again Omneya scored 6 points in a row. In a zone, on a cloud. And despite all of Nicol’s relentlessness, the Egyptian levels is up 11/9…

Crowd is ecstatic. Crowd is chanting. Magic.

The third again will be dominated by Omneya’s flair and hands, quick reading of the game and feathery volleying. 2/2, 3/3, 4/4, and the Egyptian again takes the lead, 7/4, 10/6. Nicol wouldn’t be Nicol if she didn’t dig in. She’ll try, but too little too late. 11/8 and 2/1 Omneya.

Crowd is now dancing, even more chanting, even more magic.

But in the fourth, the pressure is now on the Egyptian. She starts thinking oh my God, I could be in the final. Oh my god. And zoooooom, 5 tins in 8 points. That’s what Nicol was waiting for. 9/3 Nic, to level it up 11/5.

The fifth is a typical Nicol’s game. Now completely in control at the front, she is able to finally put the pressure on her opponent, each ball finds the target, at the back and at the front. Omneya is finally starting to get tired. But never says die.2/3, 4/5, she is still in the run. But Nicol has now the feeling that she’s got Omneya by the throat, and won’t let go. 11/5 for Nicol.

“Never in doubt” …..

[3] Raneem El Welily (Egy) 3-1 [5] Alison Waters (Eng)
              11/6, 11/9, 9/11, 11/5 (48m)

Raneem Flying, Alison always dangerous

Rino as her friends call her was flying in the first game really. Forgot the troubled ankle. No parasite or demons talking to her. Short rallies, too good variations of shots, 8/2, 9/4, 11/6, Alison not able to really get in the game yet.

The second, Alison is now getting used to the Egyptian’s pace, and uses her magic wand to volley as ever so sharply. Game is much closer, 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4, 6/6. Raneem seems to take the advantage, 9/6, but Alison is fining her pace and groove, saving a game ball 10/8, to finally bow 11/9. But it’s too close for comfort.

And the English lady takes advantage of a little relaxation from Raneem, exactly as she did the night before against Laura! 5/0, 9/3! Annnnd that’s the moment the Egyptian decides that after all, having a game plan could be a good idea, and that wining 3/0 could be better than wining 3/1! Point by point by point by point, Raneem scores 6 points in a row. The crowd is completely behind her girl and at 9/10, she is two points away from the match. But no, Alison finally get a winner, and squeeze a lovely forehand low drive that Raneem can’t get out of the wall.

Raneem is now fully back in the match, and playing her best squash – as she did in the first, she flies away 4/0, 9/3 and delights the adoring crowd with taking the game and math 11/5.

Egypt has got one girl in the Final. And I’m told that Raneem is back to number 2 after that win…

Will Nicol get her 8th title? She is so greeeeeeedy she might do. Or will Egypt get her first ever World Champion? As Steve would stay, stay tuned…

 

Alison is such a strong player, even if you have a game plan, she’ll break it down. So you’ve got to keep on leaving it, coming back to it, leaving it, coming back to it.

So it’s not so much a question of having a game plan, it’s a matter of mental strength, to try and keep your body going…

I’ve very happy, and the people around me make this happy feel ten times stronger. But now,  time to stop feeling happy, regroup, and get ready for tomorrow.