R2: Hania confirms against Amanda

[5] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 2-0 [7] Amanda Sobhy (USA)  12-10, 11-8 (41m)

It’s a double confirmation for the Gazelle: first, she confirms that she can take out Amanda twice a row, to make their H2H 2/2. And second, she is backing up from her match yesterday, brutal, both mentally and physically against Camille.

Mouaais, you may say, it’s only BO3. Yes. But players are match short. They need to get back in the let’s play brutal games every single night and look good…

Amanda was as dangerous as ever. She has a way to cut the ball, who else on the tour can do that? Maybe Sherbini, but Nour is more of a long drop shots from all over the court than cutting the ball off that sharply, regularly and accurately.

Amanda is a clever player. She knows how to pace herself: watch her “Bronx Walk” when she’s got to serve and needs to breathe a bit. I just love observing her….

First game, crucial really. From a mental point of view methinks. Hania, muscles probably a bit sore, is not able to read Amanda’s sharp short game and goes down 6/2 rather rapidly.

But from then on, the rallies get longer and longer, both of the players trying to outsmart the other one. The game will last 25m, 8/8, 9/9, game ball for Hania, saved by a lovely crisp winner, 10/10, but an error and a winner later, it’s 12/10 for the Egyptian.

The second is as close, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4, 5/5, 7/7, 8/8. The hard work seems to now affect the American, she is not moving as well as in the first game, but that makes her even more dangerous, and Hania has got to lob defence, several times. It works wonders, and it’s the Egyptian in 14m, 11/8. Crowd is happy.

Hania

 

“I tried not to think much about the match, but I wanted to win in two if that was possible.

“The first game was very crucial, Amanda was leading and then I found my game and it was really tough from the first. My knee is good, it looks like I was digging in and fighting for every shot and that was the result.

“I love playing in Egypt in front of this crowd, my coaches, my family and my friends are all here, so it’s always special playing in Egypt.”