QF: Amina finally gets her win against Nour

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[8] Amina Orfi (EGY) 3-3 [2] Nour ElSherbini (EGY)  11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 11-13, 11-9 (101m)

report to come

Interesting stat: Nour hadn’t lost in a Platinum quarter since the 2019 British Open… (thanks Jérôme Elhaïk)

Where to start with a 101m match with a Kid beating a Legend?….

Weird how time flies. I was looking in the lovely stats that SquashInfo had provided me with, and realised that Nour was 29. First time I saw her, she was what… 8? And now, she is facing a little girl I’ve seen growing up on the Egyptian Junior local events for the past 10 years…

It’s well documented that Nour had to take some time off because of her knee worry. And maybe she was not as physically prepared as she would have liked. But most of all, I think today is all about Amina being Amina, observing everything, noticing everything. She doesn’t speak much. She learns. All the time. Also, she has changed her position on the court; she is more at the front, attacks more, and volleys more. And she had played Nour twice, took all the info she needed in her database, and zoom: we have today’s performance..

6/0 for Amina to set up the pace in the opener. Baoum. Immediately, I could hear Greg’s voice going Allez Nour. That’s normally when he starts to feel she needs support. And normally, it comes much later.

A big push from the Princess, back to 8/8, but Amina cannot be stopped, and it’s three points for the Destroyer, 11/8, 12m game. Amina one error only, Nour 2, plus giving away a stroke. 7 winners for Nour, 8 for Amina.

The second is MASSIVE, 22m. Nour finally gets the lead for the first time of the match at 6/5.

Amina is again dominating the long rallies, and sets up 3 game balls, 10/7. The ref is very active at that point, plenty of decisions, video ref too, Nour manages to level 10/10, and with the momentum, clinches the game 12/10, scoring 5 points in a row.

10 winners for Nour, only 6 for Amina. Only one error from Amina, 3 from Nour.

Nour will make more and more errors as the 4th game develops, 5 plus giving away a stroke, that 6 points given to Amina, who on the other hand didn’t make a single error in the 10m game that she takes 11/7 after dominating 4/1, 6/3.

Amina requests a new ball, but it’s Nour that will benefit from it. A very close game, 20m long, not much between them the whole way, 3/3, 4/4, 5/5, 6/6, 8/8, 9/9. Nour keeps getting lets as Amina seems to be in her way a bit too much, feels the ref. Shame as the shots were great, just let her through and show us how good your shots are, methinks.

Amina won’t have a match ball in the tie-break, and Nour clinches that 4th at her third attempt, 13/11. 8 winners, 7 for Amina. Interesting to note that Amina gave away 4 strokes in that game alone.

The fifth is as close to the previous game, and even longer, 24m, well, minus 3m, as Amina twisted her ankle at 6/6 and requested the physio (self-inflicted).

2/2, 4/4, 6/6, 7/7. Nour seems to take a slight advantage, 9/7. But a stroke and a no let from the video ref, we are back at 9/9. Incredibly, Nour will make two unforced errors at that point, and scoring 4 points in a row, Amina clinches that decider, 11/9.

One error from Nour in that last game, O from Amina. Only 3 errors from Amina in a 101m match.

 Amina with that victory ended a run of 39 consecutive semi-final appearances for ElSherbini in Platinum events.

 

Atef El Sherbini (Nour’s Dad) :  Tonight, the better player won.

Amina : “I’m in disbelief.

“It’s my third time playing Nour, the last three times she beat me and today I wanted to play my best to reach my first Platinum semi-final. I don’t think that she was playing her best today but I had to take this opportunity because maybe next time we play she will be back to her best.

“I try not to think about the pressure. I try to play each point as I can. I was down 9-7 and I was slightly hurt so I just wanted to keep playing and see how it went and thankfully it was okay.

“Well I’ll get a good rest and watch the next match. No.4 and No.6 in the world. I played both of them a few weeks ago in Australia and beat Tinne but lost to Olivia so it’s going to be a good match and I’ll look forward to playing the winner.”