[5] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 3-0 [13] Salma Hany (EGY) 13-11, 11-5, 11-4 (30m)
A bit of a nervous Nour to start with, against a “I have nothing to lose and plenty of volleying to offer” Salma, and we had a great opener!
The BlackBall star was leading the whole game, 4/1, 5/2, 6/4, 8/4 9/5, with Nour serving out (when was the last time that happened) at 1-2…
10/7 Game ball Salma, and a huge beautiful intense rally, that sees the Heliopolis girl taking mental advantage as she pushes an error out of Salma’s racquet. Salma won’t be able to concretise any of the 4 game balls she had and it’s Nour on her first, 13/11 in 12m.
Broken mentally, Salma cannot contain Nour in the second, 5/0, 9/2 and 11/5 in 8.
The third is about on the same model, although Salma looked more positive, assertive and a bit more fiery.
But what she had to do to win a single point would dishearten anybody, and it’s 11/4 in 8 for Nour….
Nour
Salma played extremely well at the beginning of the match. I was just getting used to the court and the conditions, so I’m very glad to stick in the first game. The first game is very important and builds a lot of confidence so it was important to take that one.
“It’s all the pressure combined in one event – it’s the World Championship, Pyramids – everything. I’m playing well so I want to keep the momentum going as well and I’m very glad to be in the quarter final. I hope I can come back the next round and play well.”
