Raneem: It was not about revenge, it was about who is handling the event better...
[3] Raneem El Welily (Egy) 3-1 [2] Nouran Gohar (Egy) 11-8, 7-11, 11-4, 11-5 (42m)
At the British Open and in the China Open, when Raneem lost against her club mate Nouran, Raneem had lost the first two games. So I guess today she wanted to make sure she would break that pattern, and focused on taking that opener. For some reason, I felt that Nouran was a bit nervous at the start. She was not firing as she normally does. As ever, she didn’t make many unforced errors – she made 1 tin the whole match – but it was more in her power that I saw she was not as confident out there than she normally is. Playing at home is an extra pressure for those girls….
She took the lead though, finding some superb crosscourts that really pushed Raneem so far away in the back corners, she didn’t have a chance to pick up the nicks at the front, 5/2 Nouran. But Raneem stuck in there, 5/5, 6/6, 7/7. A big push from Raneem, no more errors (3 in the beginning of the game), 11/8 in 10m. Raneem goes on with the momentum, 4/0, but it’s a sudden awakening for the Double World Junior Champ. Now she is relaxed and hitting the ball like only knows how! Eight points in a row, the crowd is loving it. And if Raneem finally gets a quick winner in, Nouran won’t look back, 11/7 in 12m… But whatever her coaches told her between the games, she comes back another player. Hitting perfect length, accurate at the back, and perfect timing on the ball at the front, Raneem dominates the 3rd in 6m, 11/4. And goes on with the next one with the same mental focus and energy, 7/2, 10/4 and 11/5, in 7m….
Raneem
I’m definitely and absolutely happy to win this final. Nouran is a tough opponent, she is a great player on and off court, it was a pleasure to play against her in this Wadi Degla final, in Wadi Degla.
I was trying to get the ball to the back and volleying as much as I could. I was trying to do that in the second, but then my length got short and I had to find another way to get the ball to the back! I’m really glad I found a solution there, otherwise, it would have been a nightmare!!!!
The tournaments China and Hong were really heartbreaker, but I learned a lot from them. Today, it was not about revenge, or who would play better. Nouran and I play at least once every two weeks, she knows my game, and I know hers. No, it was all about who would manage the event, the conditions better. My win yesterday against Nicol gave me a huge boost, a lot of confidence, and I think that’s what made a huge difference today.
Egypt is one of the crowd that knows the best about squash, and understands it. They are always supporting the good shots on court, and appreciate good squash, who ever is playing it. So very happy to win here, and I would like to dedicate this win to my GrandPa, and to the new addition to the family, Farida…