R2: Tarek 3-2 Pat

Posted on by

[7] Tarek Momen (Egy) 3-2 Patrick Rooney (Eng) 8-11, 11-4, 1-11, 11-7, 11-8 (65m)

I felt for Raneem (Tarek’s wife) and Omar Abdel Aziz (coach) during the match. Tarek was not comfortable on court at any time. All credit to Patrick’s stunning performance, of course. It was one of those encounters where you KNOW it’s going to five, and you feel the higher seed’s experience will eventually make the difference but how tense, intense was that, up 10/5 match ball, only to see the English player giving it a last and beautiful push, saving three match balls before finally bowing on a little clip of the tin at the end of yet a very hard rally…

Tarek

“The score might look typical but every match has its own story.

Unfortunately, for the past few months, something wrong with me, I don’t know what it is. I’m not feeling well. But please, I don’t want to take anything away from Patrick, he played today one of the best matches I ever saw him play.

It’s so fittingly happens on the day I really do not feel well! I honestly feel I did very well to win today, I had about 40% in the tank, I had to push 300% just to equalise with what he was doing on court, how amazing he was playing.

Sometimes he can have a good spell and loses focus and then gives me some cheap errors. This never happens until the end. I was 10-5, match ball at the end and he wouldn’t give up and he kept coming back. I eventually managed to force an error at 8-10 thankfully because I was completely drained.

I’m very happy with the win. I’m sad I’m feeling this way, I’m unable to find what’s wrong with me, but tomorrow is a new day, and maybe I’ll feel much better.