[4] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 3-0 Sana Ibrahim (EGY) 11-3, 11-5, 11-7 (29m)
Sana played better as the match went along, 11/3 in 7m, then 11/5 in 8m to a good last game, threatening the #4 in the middle of the game, 11/7 in 10m.
Still, Tinne was in more physical control today than in their two previous battles and was able to handle whatever great shots Sana was throwing at her. This was a perfect start to the event for Belgium.
Tinne
“That’s definitely my ideal start to a tournament! But I knew it wasn’t going to be easy at all – Sana is a great player, she’s been playing my sister a lot of the time and those were big battles and she’s shown everyone that she can beat those top 10 players so I knew I had to focus on my game plan and stick to it throughout the whole match otherwise it was going to be very hard.
“Rowan is definitely a big threat. She’s top level and she can beat anyone on her day so it’s going to be a very hard match. I’ve played her before, I know what she’s capable of and it’s going to be a big battle tomorrow but I’m very excited for it. I know it’s going to be a clean match as always with Rowan and I’m ready for a big one tomorrow.
“For me, the top 15 are all so close. Every week, everyone changes one spot up and one spot below, we’re all so close and we can all beat each other. What ever ranking I am it’s not going to make it easier or harder, I have to keep doing what I’m doing.”
