QF: Satomi a bit wobbling on crucial points against Amina

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[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) 3-0 [6] Satomi Watanabe (JPN)  11-8, 11-6, 13-11 (58m)

Today, I feel Satomi will be unhappy with her performance. She managed to create some good opportunities, making the court very big for the young Egyptian, but seemed to find the tin – or send the ball out of court – at the crucial times.

Apparently, according to Amina, she made more errors the previous times she played her, so I am a bit surprised!

Then again, maybe it was a sharp contrast with the very few errors coming from Amina’s racquet. O in the first game, 1 in the second, and 0 in the 25m last game! That girl is just … incredible.

Now the first game was close up to 5/5, 6/6, with some winners coming from Amina, 9/6, 10/7, 11/7, 7 of them, but it was Satomi that scored the most of them, 8. She also gave away 4 points, 2 errors and 2 conceded strokes. O for Amina…

The second saw again Satomi making the rallies long but forcing the issue, three errors that helped Amina to lead 7/3. The Japanese didn’t make another error from that moment on, but Amina’s gap was just too wide and the Egyptian takes the second one 11/6.

We had a great game in the third! For the first time since leading 4/1 in the first game, Satomi was ahead for most of the game, just a couple of points, then it was point for point all the way to 11/11!

Amina had a first match ball at 10/9, nullified by a lovely backhand drop shot. Satomi had her chance as well, game ball at 11/10, but a no let took that one away.

And it’s finally Amina, on her second attempt, that closed the game and match, 13/11… Fast pace, accurate squash, beautiful game indeed.

Amina : “I think I played really well today. I don’t think Satomi made as many errors as she did in our last two encounters. I’m just happy with how I dealt with it in the third game. I’m just trying to focus on my squash – I think I’m calmer in this event, and I think it is helping get me through these pressure moments in these matches.

“I remember last year here, it was insane. It gives me a push, and it is definitely one of my favourite events on tour.

“I’ve been off tournaments for seven weeks now, so I’ve had plenty of time to add things to my game. It gives me more of an edge. Power is obviously one of my strong suits; it puts players under pressure, but adding helps me not get tired more easily, and brings more variety to my game.”