R1 : [15] Nadine Shahin (EGY) 3-1 Haley Mendez (USA) 10-12, 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 (33m)
Out of the three matches those two played – stats were 3-0 to Nadine – Haley took the first game in two matches. And today was no different.
A superb start from the American, newly engaged to English player lefthander Nathan Lake, who managed to find a perfect balance between attacking at the front, and superb lob defence that pushed Nadine to the back again and again. The Egyptian had to win the point several times, and was pushed to a few errors.
Still, Nadine had two game balls, 10/8, but couldn’t close the game, and it’s the American who took that well deserved opening game in 12m, 12/10.
She kept in touch with the Egyptian in the second game, but Nadine found her killers and backhand boasts, overpowering the American time and time again. The last two games were pretty one-sided but I was happy to see Haley play such a crispy squash today.
Nadine was quick to reassess after the first game and will enjoy tomorrow’s rest day…
Haley
I haven’t thought about our last two matches, because for me, there is a before COVID and an after COVID. It’s so hard to evaluate a player’s form, it depends if they had access to courts, etc.
I think I might have surprised her today, I just snuck out of the reserve list a few days ago, and she might have thought it was an easy draw. So I was happy with my first game but after that, I lost a bit of my length, maybe the ball died out a bit, and anything in the middle she would just kill it.
Still, I’m very happy with the way I played the two first game, I did all I could and that’s what counts…
Nadine
I’m not used to playing matches that early. I know Haley always gets off to a good start. We’ve played a few times, I know how to play her and I’m just happy to close that one out.
I know I needed to keep a fast pace, it’s comfortable for me and uncomfortable for her – It’s my type of game.”
