[4] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 3-2 Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 5-11, 11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6 (49m)
The stats were 4/1 to Amanda in non PSA matches but Amanda wasn’t that confident today we felt. Well, she had COVID and has been playing better and better, but might not be at her best, especially against a player she might have had trouble getting motivated against…
And it was all about Sabrina, sharp and lethal in the first short game. Amanda was pretty dominant the whole second game, 5/1, 10/5 even if Sabrina claws back to 5/7 at some point. The elder was in charge and level 1/1.
Complete reverse in the third, 5/0 to Sabrina, 8/3. But Amanda finding some superbly accurate squash under pressure, and slowing closing the gap, 8/9, and saving a game ball to finally bow 11/9 in 10m.
The fifth is about Amanda’s accuracy at all times, towards a fierce determination but sometimes lack on length and overall precision. Amanda 6/1 8/2, 2 match balls saved from young sister but the Elder taking it 11/6 in 9 with a huge sigh of relief…
Amanda
“I think every older sibling kind of knows how I feel. The younger sibling never really has much pressure and everyone kind of roots for them to make the upset. It gives me added pressure, expectations and stress. It’s a relief when you win and then you just hope and pray that you don’t have too play each other for a very long time.
“I’ve been avoiding it, thankfully, for a couple of years and mentally preparing for this day. This day has happened now and I hope I have a few years to recover, I’m sure we’re going to play each other and I’m sure it’s not going to be fun.”