R2: Amina had to play her A game to beat Lucie
[8] Amina Orfi (EGY) 3-1 Lucy Turmel (ENG) 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4 (50m)
A very clean match. Very few calls, both players making all efforts to reach the ball.
Lucy was extremely solid today, obiously in particular in the 2nd game she won, finding 8 winners, instead of the 4 she had in the first game, and 5 in the third. Amina was more regular, 7 in the first for the Egyptian, 6 in the second, 6 in the 3rd, and logically, 9 in the 4th.
Both girls like their squash solid at the back before going wild at the back. And that made patient, griding yet entertaining rallies, with both camps bitting their nails as the quality was high from both.
The third is the turning point, mentally more than anything else, as Amina came back ragging after the loss of the second, 8/0! But was the English panicking? Nope, she just put a bit more patient and weight in the rallies and soon we were back at 7/9!!! Worrying times for Mr Orfi, bless him, who made his deep voice heard a bit too much to the liking of the ref who warned him that “there was far too much communications during that game”. “I didn’t say anything, I didn’t do anything” explained the involved father. I guess had he spoke in English, it wouldn’t have been even noticed…
Still, not a word in the next game from Mohamed, Amina was now back to her “Destroyer” Mode, and although the score looks sharp, 11/4, it still laste 10m, proof it was hard work from both…
Amina : I should have attacked a bit more at the beginning. I got some openings, but I didn’t use them well.
To regain the control after the second, I started to play deeper shots. I changed the direction of the shots more, switching to the forehand side of the court when she was waiting for the volley backhand, because she anticipated the ball, to send her in the wrong direction, to make sure she wouldn’t get the ball, or a bit late, so I could play short.
I played better in the 3rd and 4th game but I didn’t play my best today, obviously. She had no pressure coming on court today, last time we played, I was the winner, and I’m above her in the ranks, so she was playing very well.
Court conditions were fine, the last game we played, the ball was softening up, it was better, when I’d play a drop, she wouldn’t get it. But I’m not sure I like these court since last year, I really prefer the glasscourt, and I can’t wait to play on the glass against the winner of Nour/Satome.
