R1: Noor came back from 2/0 and 6/3 in the 5th against Auguste, but…

Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 3-2 Noor Zaman (PAK)  11-8, 11-3, 10-12, 9-11, 11-8 (58m)

Auguste

I don’t think the difference between the start of the match and the two games I lost was just down to me. He’s the kind of player who’s a bit up and down — I’ve watched a few of his matches, and it’s often 11–4, 4–11, 11–4…

Even when I was 2–0 up, I hadn’t necessarily done the hardest part yet. At 2–0, the ball felt a bit more dead, a bit colder. He started the third well, hit a couple of winners, and the momentum shifted a bit.

At 9–9 in the third, I don’t play it well, and he takes it. Same in the fourth — game ball, I don’t play it very well, and he takes it. Those little details are what allow him to come back to 2–2.

In the fifth, I’m down 6–3, and I manage to come back to 10–6. At 6–3, I felt a bit flat, a bit low on energy, and then I hear “Come on Auguste” from the back. That’s really the moment I tell myself, okay, if there’s a time to switch on, it’s now — otherwise it’ll be too late. I try to bounce a bit, get myself going again, and then a bit of momentum follows. I find my length again on the backhand side, take control of the T, push him to attack from the back, and force errors from him.

And that’s where things turn in the fifth. I’m happy, because even at 10–6 he comes back to 10–8, and at that point I tell myself, you’ve got to take this one now, because after that, there’s only one chance left and it can get tight again.

Really happy to win this match, and hopefully I can win again tomorrow against Marwan. We get on well off court, but on court it’s always more complicated. He’s a very intelligent player — someone I enjoy watching, not necessarily playing…

Looking forward to tomorrow now, recovering well, being at 100% — it’s going to be a big match.