R2: [1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 3-0 Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 16-14, 11-8, 11-5 (32m)
“This was a rehearsal” I told Sabrina at the end of her match.
Those two hadn’t played since the Juniors back in Poland, that’s a while back I tell you! And today, was extremely interesting I thought. I could see what Sabrina was doing, and how it was putting Nour under pressure.
Of course, the Egyptian is the best player in the world, so she is going to respond and find answers/solutions. But I tell you: had Sabrina taken that opening game where she had 2 game balls, the match would have taken a very different flavour I feel.
I am for one very admirative of the game of that young lady, 23. She hits the ball extremely hard, she is fit, she is determined, fair, and like a dog with a bone. Nour gets away with a three love here, but I feel next time might not be as short… But what do I know.
Sabrina
I have been playing well in the last couple of tournaments, so now was a perfect time to play the best player in the world, especially as there is not much happening after that, and that I could take a few pointers from it, and use them to grow as a player.
Pointers, yes, well, my stamina for one, I need to be able to keep strong, I definitely lost some steam today. Yes, I had a hard match yesterday, but I need to work on being to play tough match after tough match.
Also, getting a better timing of my movement, I sometimes run more than I should, I think I did that a lot in the first game. I did a lot of running around, but then again, she can kill the ball down whenever she wants really!
I think I would have liked to capitalise a bit more on the first game, and use that opener to put her under more pressure…
Nour
Sabrina is really good.
We are the same age but haven’t had a chance to play a lot against each other. She came through a very tough first round, beating Salma Hany 3-2. I’ve been staying in the room for two days now, so it’s very hard to be really ready from the first point and her court coverage is unbelievable. I needed some time to adapt to her game but I’m really glad I won the first because it made a huge difference in the match.
Amanda is left-handed and Sabrina is right-handed, so there’s a huge difference between both of them. It’s been a long time since I’ve played Amanda, so looking forward to it.
