R2: Gina saves 5 game balls to win in 4 against Farida

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[6] Gina Kennedy (ENG) 3-1 Farida Mohamed (EGY)  11-9, 11-5, 2-11, 13-11 (37m)

What a mental masterclass today. As James Willstrop would say ‘Squash is such a mental game it’s a joke’. Today was a perfect example.

If yesterday against Rowan Elaraby, Farida was able to implant everything she has been working on in her game with her coach Ahmed Effat – as she wasn’t pushed physically, it’s easier to be patient when you are not tired – today, she suffered.

A huge win the day before, adrenalin rushing through her veins, muscles a bit sore at the start of the match, maybe a bit flat mentally. On the other side, we had Gina, fresh as an English Rose, with the thorns mind, and ready to face the ‘New Farida’.

And the English was able to dismantle that new girl, and forced the “old Farida” out of the bag. The Egyptian started to hit too hard, going for shots too quickly, and of course, making a heck of a lot of errors, 6 in the first game alone. Gina wins the game in 8m, with only 5 winners, 7 for Farida, 11/9, thanks to 3 errors from Farida in 4 points.

The second game is all about Gina, Farida is lost out there, 2/0, 6/2, 9/4, 11/5 in 7m.

Big wake up from the Egyptian in the third, two uncharacteristic errors from the English number one to start the game, and it’s quickly 6/0 for Farida, 8/1, 11/2 in 4m!

The fourth is nailbitting for the Egyptian camp. 2/2, 4/4, but the Egyptian is a couple of points ahead, and seems to set up a decisive 5th, 10/6 game ball. But Mr Tin shows his ugly head again, and it’s 10/10 before we can realise what is going on.

Farida flight back, 11/10, 5th game ball, but Gina is just too accurate, and will take the match on her first attempt, 13/11. 4 tins from Farida in 5 points from 8/10… Last game, 10m.

 

Gina : When you see Farida in a draw, you know she can beat anybody on her day.

Third game, tactically I went off a little bit, but I thought I was putting the ball in good areas. And you could see how dangerous she is. My speed is probably my biggest asset, I couldn’t even see the ball! She slotted like 4 or 5 winners quickly!

I tried to make it as physical as I could but she is so good, she is so hard to play. Obviously, the other side of the coin is that she gives you a lot of errors. I mean, I’m not going to sit here and say ‘I deserve to win that fourth’. I knew I was not playing my best, because of the way she played, she stopped me completely from controlling the ball, getting onto the ball early, because she takes it in so early, so you can’t really use your speed.

I got very lucky at the end, I hussled a few balls back, I think she was surprised I got them back, she hit the tin…

I just said to Nick, I don’t think I ever in my life screamed after winning. But she was doing it in my ear literally every second, and I try and keep my composure on court, but it was just building up and building up.

My coach always tells me he wants me to show positive emotions but it’s not really who I am, I’m kind of head down with a little fist pump. But there, it just came out from nowhere, so he’ll probably will be happy about that.

Nick was so helpful today. Even after winning that first game, I was very lucky to win it, but I didn’t quite know why or what I was doing, he is so tactically astute, he told me exactly what to do. I was winning points on the right side, so as best as I could, tried to keep it on that side.

After the 3rd, he told me ‘you have to stick to the plan, the best players in the world don’t stray from the game plan’. And I was starting to do that. So having him there was a massive, massive help, and it’s amazing he is now an English coach.