R2: Nour ET 3-0 Aifa

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[5] Nour El Tayeb (Egy) 3-0 Aifa Azman (Mas)   11-6, 11-2, 11-4 (23m)

Aifa Azman yesterday actually mentioned how Nour was getting better and better – she had played her in the Worlds first round last year – and that scared her. But the Malaysian didn’t let it show today. Her backhand in particular at the front of the court was lethal and caused the Egyptian a few points.

But Nour relaxed after taking the first 7m game, and the rest of the match was more comfy, 11/2, 11/4. A good start for the new Manchester champion who was only praise for her coach, Engy Kheirallah…

Nour

Thank GOD I didn’t read your article yesterday, it would have unsettled me!

Today is the first time I have Engy with me. I started working with her since the end of the World Teams. I really wanted her to be with me as she makes me really relaxed, as a person, and as a squash player.

I’ve enjoyed working with her, so I pleaded with her, can you please come to Gouna, I really need you there with me. She gracefully came, I’ve been with her for a couple of hours and already I feel comfortable and also is my daughter Farida, who is staying in her arms, it’s the first time I’ve seen Farida that calm behind the court.

She makes me focus on squash, you know? She makes me forget about last week, if I don’t feel confident about my squash, it’s only about the shots, the execution, the rallies, I never up to now focused on the execution. But that’s something she puts a lot of emphasis on, on how I play the ball.

I think this will help me throughout the rest of the tournament., it’s how it should be, but I know how I feel, and this first round has been the best I could have ever imagined.