[4] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 3-0 Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-7, 11-3, 12-10 (28m)
Fram’s Thoughts
What to say about a match where the last game 12/10 lasts 8m? RapidFire, GunFight at OKCorrall, Shooting at will…
The game plan? Play as fast as possible, never touch the backwall unless absolutely necessary, and rely on reflexes and instinct.
At some point, I thought the match was going to be under 25m. But no, they managed to keep it going just a bit longer, GOD BLESS THEM TWO.
Stats – might as well, so little to go on – 5 winners in the first game for Nicki, then 2 and finally 5 in the last game. Mazen, 7, 8 and 7.
Not for the fainted-hearted, that’s for sure. But as it was at the end of two long days after 10 months of working from home at my own pace, somehow I guess I was grateful to get back “early” to the hotel…
PSA Reports
‘The Black Falcon’ was firing on all cylinders right from the offset, pulling off winner after winner to the delight of the packed house in the Black Ball Sporting Club. Switzerland’s Mueller did what he could to go blow for blow with Hesham, but the Egyptian was too strong in the opening two games, taking them by 11-7 and 11-3 scorelines.
Mueller managed to get a foothold in the match in the third as he raced into a 6-2 lead with some entertaining play of his own, but No.4 seed Hesham showed impressive composure to level the scoreboard at 6-6, before moving to match ball at 10-8 up.
Despite Mueller saving both match balls, Hesham took the subsequent tie-break to set up a mouth-watering quarter-final tie with compatriot Youssef Ibrahim.
Mazen
“It’s always difficult playing Nicolas. He can be very dangerous when he puts his mind to it, so I knew I had to be on my mettle today. He came back in the tie-break in the third, but I’m very happy with the result.
“I know it is going to be really tough for me against Youssef, so I’ll have to be on it from the start because I saw what he did to Joel today.
“He’s trying to get to some higher ranks, so I’m going to have to do my homework and be prepared for the next one. Hopefully, I can put on a good show for everybody here.”
