QF: Nour 3-0 Rowan

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[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) 3-0 [8] Rowan Elaraby (EGY)  11-7, 11-6, 11-7 (35m)

Rowan might be a bit disappointed with her first two games, the time I feel it took her to 1. relax and breathe. 2. get used to the glass. Nour had already played on the glass, Rowan was at the Squash Complex. Completely different feel of the ball and conditions.

Nour was trying to be fired up from the start, encouraged by her coach Greg Gaultier, going “Allez Nour, COME ON” every other point. The Sherbini camp has been a bit concerned with Nour’s recent performances; I see it in the encouragement, in the hard breathing of the family. It’s just a feeling I have.

Rowan is a work in progress I feel. She is now working with Engy Kheirellah for a few months now, but tonight, we had Karim Darwish in her corner, for Wadi Degla team support.

Tonight, Rowan managed to achieve something not many people have been able to achieve, beat Nour at the front in a reflex battle. She managed at least three times to win the point counterattacking Nour’s short shots and THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN OFTEN.

A good start from Nour in the opener, 4/0, 6/2, 8/4 but Rowan finding some great winners clawing back 7/8, still Nour closes the game in 10m, 11/7.

Rowan made 5 errors in that opener, gave away again 5 points (3 tins and 2 strokes conceded) in the second and only 1 in the last game. Like I said, it took her a little time to get used to the court…

The second was Nour dominating, but Rowan came back strong in the 3rd, 2/2, 5/5, 6/6, 7/7. But at that point, it’s like the engine stopped. She didn’t seem able to move anymore, and Nour was able to string the last 4 points quickly…

Nour :

“I thought that was over 60 minutes! I thought I played more. It wasn’t that long but I think it was very hot so it felt longer than we thought.

“I’m not that character who wants to prove people who say she is a slow starter wrong. I only want to prove to myself. To be honest, every match for me is different and I approach it with a different perspective. I don’t think a lot about what happened before, it doesn’t take up much of my head so it doesn’t affect me. I try to play every match as different. It’s a different match against a different opponent with a different mindset.”