R3: Nour takes revenge for last year…

[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 2-0 [6] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)  11-7, 12-10 (24m)

Nour doesn’t like playing SJ. The Tall English lady has a game that Nour finds difficult to handle, and SJ has got a good record against her. Not to mention that last year, Nour actually lost in 2 against SJ in the same stage of the competition.

All that to say that Nour was ready for the match, truly. SJ, nothing to lose, power in the racquet, moving pretty fast and reading Nour’s pretty well, was threatening up to the middle of the game, but it’s a 9 minute game taken by the Egyptian.

The second seems going the same way, 7/3 for the World Champ, but Sarah-Jane finds some exquisite shots, and quickly strings points. 7/7. 8/8. 9/9. A stroke by the video ref gives her a game ball, but a no let takes it away and it’s 11/0 for Nour in 14m….

Nour

“It is a perfect start for me to win all three matches. Any of them I could play in the final of a Platinum event so I am really happy that I have won the three matches 2-0 each.

“I always tried to be focussed and be ready. In one season, SJ beat me three times, so I had to prepare mentally for this match. I was just trying to focus like it was any other match, not like I was already qualified. I tried to relax and get used to the court, and now I am looking ahead to the semis.”