R2: Clean Great match Soliman 3/1 Curtis

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[8] Youssef Soliman (EGY) 3-1 Curtis Malik (ENG)  12-10, 12-14, 12-10, 11-5 (70m)

It must have been a shock to Youssef to play himself… ha… Curtis played a bit the same way than the Egyptian today. Patient, varying height beautifully, lovely counterdrops, glued drives…. Superb quality squash, extremely enjoyable match.

The turning point is the 3rd, as Curtis had two game balls, 10/8, but a winner took care of the first one, a stroke, of the second, and then two unforced errors, and you have 12/10 to Soliman in 13m.

First game was 20m, the second, 17. I feel a bit of tiredness in the English legs and maybe in the brain as well, got him to force a bit the end of the rallies – as he had a big win yesterday, coming back from 1/2 down against Tamimi. Maybe a bit of inexperience as well? That third was his I felt.

Fourth is a bit of a formality, and Youssef was extremely relieved at the end of the match with the result… Fair match, clean match, more of those please.

Youssef :  I never played Curtis before, and I had no idea how clever he is tactically. I knew he is a hard worker and has good work ethics. But I didn’t how how good he is tactically as well.

He knew very well I like to get my movement across the T, he completely contained me, did you see how many lobs he played, it was ridiculous.

I tried to twist and turn him, as I as I try for a rally, he is adjusting very well, using lots of heights, containing me, containing me, waiting for the right shot to execute his winner.

I’m very happy. I feel the second part of the season has been very tough on me in terms of my body. Maybe I rushed my preparation for Gouna, but it’s going ok so far. And I’m happy with my body, I’m happy with the way I’m fighting. Not so much about my squash, but with the way I’m fighting. I’m really stubborn, I’m enjoying it.

I have two great role models in my corner, Hesham El Attar, and Mike Way, who is working on the mental side of the game.

Mike really changed my way to see my game. When Haitham left for the US, Mike Way came to Cairo, I had two weeks with him, and it was the best 2 weeks in my squash career. I loved chatting with him, I love his philosophy of the game. He is a coach that doesn’t change your shots, but changes your character, and your perspective in life. So, very happy to have him and Hesham in my corner.