R1: Joel very close 4 games against Declan
[4] Joel Makin (WAL) 3-1 Declan James (ENG) 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10 (65m)
No.4 seed Joel Makin won an all-British affair against Declan James on day one of the El Gouna International to kickstart his campaign in the final Platinum event of the season.
In just over an hour on court, the pair contested many quality rallies with both using all areas of the court to stay in front and dictate play. Makin drew first blood 11-8 before James responded by winning the second game with the same score.
The rallies were becoming long and tough. James determined to use his reach to stay in the middle whilst Makin was happy to move around the tall Englishman and counter punch where he could. This worked wonders for the Welshman who, after winning the third 11-6, closed out the match 12-10 in the fourth, saving a game ball in the process.
Joel : “It was sticking on the side wall really well and that’s Dec’s game. He’s a great straight line hitter and he was doing that really well today. He was always going to try and use his reach to stay in front and I just had to try and battle the court a little bit to get it through and past him today.”
“He’s done so well to come back. A full Achilles tear and then to come back through the Challenger Events to be back in the World Events in just over a year is incredible.
“Being seeded inside the top four is great. It’s been an accumulation of time, really. I consistently got myself in the top eight bracket, and now to have that chance as a top four seed is really nice. It usually means that you only have to play two of the top four in the world to win an event like this but I’ve got Aly Abou Eleinen tomorrow and then maybe Mohamed [Elshorbagy] to play Farag, so there’s no easy routes.”
