[3] Diego Elias (PER) 3-1 [8] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 11-3, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6 (45m)
Some of the most ridiculous fast-paced squash on the planet from those two. Forget the rule books, the coaching, game plan, all those idiotic notions that squash has to be thought through and planned. It’s just let’s do whatever we can think of at that precise instant instant!
11/3 for Diego, 4/3 three errors from Mazen, and another two at 9/3, in 8m.
Second and third, it’s all about incredible shots from Mazen at the start of the games: 6/0 in the second, Mazen taking it in 9m, 4/0 in the second, fitness starting to take its part, and the Peruvian finding his length, and forcing again some shots to offer 4 errors at crucial points again, (none from Diego), 11/6 in 13m.
Again, good start for the Egyptian in the 4th, 3/0, 3/3, 5/3, 5/5, but from that point, it’s error, error, error for Mazen, still superb incredible unexpected squash, but fitness is a worry (Mazen called the physio for his leg). A last big push at 8/6, a splendid tight backhand dropshot straight from Diego, and it’s 11/6 in 10m for the Peruvian, two victories away from becoming the first even South American Wolrd number One…
“I’m happy I stayed positive after that second game and even after a bad start in the third I managed to come back. I’m happy with the way I fought and hopefully tomorrow it will be better.
“This could have been a semi or anything. It’s good to have a match like this and win it. It wasn’t that long but it was a fast pace, hopefully, it helps me for the rest of the tournament.
“I think my head wasn’t there at the start of games, I played stupid shots and I want to fix that for my next matches. If I start like that these players are going to beat me.
“I have to go on court more focused and hopefully I can do that tomorrow.
