17-Apr: Finals:

Nour El Tayeb 3-2 Raneem El Welily
            11/7, 2/11, 11/6, 5/11, 13/11
Omar Mosaad 3-1 Zahed Mohamed
            15/17, 11/6, 11/4, 13/11

The Finals:
Fram reports from Cairo

Mosaad finally Stops Dark Horse Zahed!

Let me tell you that the Nationals here in Egypt are big. It’s not a small affair… I counted 10 media outlets, including major TV stations! Squash is big in Egypt, for sure, and the presence of Sports Minister during the match attest of that for sure.

In front of a packed house – kids ending at the front on the floor, as ever bless them – Zahed didn’t have much to lose. And it really took the game to Vice World Champion Hammer of Thor. An attritional first game, close indeed, 6/6, 8/8, 9/9, an stroke give a game ball to the underdog, 10/9, who is pushed to err at the end of another interminable rally, 10/10. Mosaad will have three game balls, but DogWithATie-Break Zahed just knows he can win those crucial crucial points and finally takes his 4th game ball, 17/15 bless him!

The hard work Omar made him do pays dividends in the next two, 11/6, then 9/1 in the 3rd, before the Sporting Boy takes his breath back, 11/4 to Omar who know leads 2 games to 1.

And to be honest, the 4th looked pretty folded back to the changing room for the Heliopolis Man at 7/3, 8/5, but Zahed is the kind of player that just won’t let it go, you know the kind, you have to win it cause they ain’t giving it for free! 10/7, and despite Omar’s effort and great skills, Zahed just retrieves everything, diving Paul Coll/Miguel style all over the court, to clinch a decider 10/10, loudly encouraged by a delighted crowd!

Zahed will manage to set up a promising game ball as he scored 4 points in a row to reach 11/10, but Omar finally realising that he could use his Hammer to actually hit the ball very very very hard for the first time of the match, managed to take the last three points, 13/11…

Omar Mosaad:

Zahed has been the Dark Horse of the tournament!

Like I said yesterday, this was a test for me, we will know next week if it was a good test, or a bad one!

It was good for me to play on the glass court, on hot and bouncy conditions like it will be in El Gouna. But it was not easy, and that’s why I’m tired!

In the first game, I was testing the court, the ball, and I was having trouble controlling the ball and finishing the points. I would have like to sneak that one, but I didn’t manage. Still I played a better squash in the second, I didn’t want to go down 2/0, it would have been very difficult mentally and physically to come back in the match from there. So I made sure I was playing my own game, and not allow him to grow his confidence.

The third I think he was pretty tired, I went up to 9/1 before he started to come back in the game, but it was a bit too late, and I managed to close that one down.

The fourth, well, was a bit like the previous match Zahed had, getting to tie-break again, I was up 10/7 match ball, and he went all the way to game ball, 11/10! At that point, I started relaxing and thinking about point by point instead of thinking about wining the match.But I’m lucky I managed to finish it, 13/11

Very happy to win the title for my club Heliopolis, now I’m going to recover, and get ready for next week!

See you in El Gouna….

Nour is alive and moving well, and lives in Cairo!!!

I know for a fact that Nour El Tayeb – about to become Mrs Ali Farag on the 13th May – feared she would never be able to compete again after her shoulder surgery that kept her far away from the courts for months. “Every match, every shot is a bonus” she smiled “three months ago, I couldn’t shower on my own…”

She had to dive once, of course, but she protected her shoulder, and you should have seen Ali jumping out of his seat, as in “do not DO THIS WOMAN!!!” Blesssss

The match started slowly for both, a few technical delay, and if Raneem made a few errors in the first game – hold the press – losing that game 11/7, she whizzed through the second, 11/2.

The third was when the match started really, with longer rallies, more pace, more intention in every shot, again too many errors from the Wadi Degla lady from 4/4, 8/4, 9/5 then 11/6 Nour.

Like in the second, Raneem found her game/pace in the 4th, and from 5/5, score 5 points to force a decider, 11/5.

The 5th was good squash really, two contrasting styles offering us a great display of talent, again 6 errors from Raneem against 2 for Nour, but close the whole way, although Nour was dominating at times, but Raneem always catching up, 2/2, 6/6, 9/9. Match ball Nour, 10/9, then match ball Raneem 11/10, but it’s the Heliopolis Bride to Be that clinches her second match ball 13/11….

Nour El Tayeb:

It’s my second National title. I won the first time in 2013, I beat Nouran Gohar in the semis – she was not as good as she is today – and Omneya in the final, Raneem was not playing.

At the start of the match, we were both testing the court I feel. It was a bit weird, there was nobody when we started, we waited for the ref, and when we had the ref, we didn’t have a score sheet, so we were waiting for that. Then we started playing, so I guess it took us a bit of time to get into the match….

The court conditions were very hard for us, a very bouncy court, which doesn’t really suit any of our games. And if Raneem’s head was not in the match in the first game, mine wasn’t either in the second!

To be honest, I don’t think either of us played our best squash today, but any match I can play against Omneya, against Raneem, is a bonus for me. Three months ago, I couldn’t take a shower on my own. So, anything I do now, every match, every shot I play – without diving – is a bonus. And playing Raneem and Omneya twice between the Leagues and this event is a very good preparation for the Worlds, and I say that now, of course I won, but win or lose, it would have been a good preparation.

Raneem won the event 4 or 5 times already, maybe I wanted to win more than she did today I don’t know! I wanted so much to play well, for myself, but also for my club Heliopolis. I also want to thank my club for their continuous support, my sponsors Pharco and Head, my coaches, Omar Elborolossy, Heliopolis Technical Director, Ahmed Hosny, and my fitness coach Hossam Shadad.

Men's Semi-Finals:
Fram reports from Cairo

Omar Mosaad 3-1 Mazen Hesham   
             11/8, 7/11, 11/8, 12/10

UP & DOWN MAZEN

It is extremely nice to see Mazen back on court. Hair a bit more manageable than before his injury bless his hairdresser, Amazing Mazen lives up to his nickname for sure. Ok, today, he didn’t have the match fitness to mentally stay focused for the whole match, sliding in and out of the games, allowing Mosaad to get back in a match he could have lost…..

Funny thing, experience. When Mosaad was a bit tired, he would ask the score again, would just take a few seconds to wipe his hand, etc. We are talking 3, 5 seconds top. Not a tennisman gap, but it just makes the difference. Whereas when Mazen is feeling tired, he goes for a shot in the wrong position/timing, and find the tin….

Today, it was unexpected versus consistency. And as often, consistency won….

In all 4 games, it was like a wave of points for one, then an wave of points for the other one… Omar takes the first game, 11/8, but after leading 5/2 in the second, he loses a bit of focus while Mazen finds his Blackfalconish magic, taking the game from 6/6, 10/6 11/7.

Third, Omar is back controlling the rallies while Mazen is bit out of mental fitness again, 5/1 Omar, but Mazen, once again, gets on that accelerator pedal, 5/5, 6/6. Omar manages to keep his nose ahead, just, but enough to take the game 11/8 to lead 2/1.

Fourth could have gone either way, close the whole way, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4, 6/6, 7/7 8/8, 9/9! At 10/9 for Mazen, we think we are on for a decider, but a tin, a no let (no happy Mazen was) and a stroke later, Mosaad is in the final, 12/10….

Zahed Mohamed 3-2 Mohamed Abouelghar 
            1/11, 11/8, 11/9, 5/11, 18/16

MATCH OF THE DAY

This tournament has been Mazen’s no doubt. After beating Karim Samy yesterday – yes, in 5 of course – 16/14 in the 4th, the Alexandria boy offered the extremely knowledgeable crowd a superb suspense we all enjoyed thoroughly.

It started well for Abouelghar, immaculate squash, perfect shot selection and timing, 11/1. It could have been a very short affair. If it hadn’t been for the unforced errors that is.

Zahed played the perfect tactic. He is not as flashy or impressive then the Mazens or Abouelghar of this world. But hard working, mentally very strong and “dog with a bone” attitude on court, he sure has. As in, if you want to win a match, you’ll have to come right into his racquet to take it away from him. Cause he ain’t going to give it for free.


After a “sans faute” first game, Abou goes for a bit too much, losing his length, and making 6 unforced error, against 2 for Zahed. Still, Abou is ahead the whole game 4/1, 7/5 only to be overtaken at 8/8, 11/8, we are 1/1.

The third, it’s Zahed turn to be dominating, 4/2, 6/3, 8/5. Abou finds sublime winners, 8/8, 9/9 but it’s again the Alex man that closes it down on a stunning winner, 11/9. Still 5 unforced errors for Abou who will take it back in the 4th, despite again making far too many errors, 5 (the five points that Zahed scores) 11/5.

The 5th, well, as a classic by its own right. Now we have the two players playing excellent squash, lovely attacks from Abou, amazing retrieving and counterdrops from Zahed, a pure joy. Abou dives in the middle of the game, calling his retrieving not up – nobody but him saw it, and gets a blood injury, 8/5 to Zahed.

When the two players get back on court, the ref calls “0/0?”….

A few too many unforced errors from a heavily knee bandaged Abou, 10/7, first match ball. 2 tins, 9/10. “Can I loosen my bandage” asks Abou. Yes says the ref. After a little dance “no you can’t sit down to it”, “yes you can sit down” corrected by the Tournament Ref, back on court, to get a stroke that takes us to a decider.

Making a veryyyyyy long story short, Abou will get 2 match balls, but it’s Zahed that clinches it on his 8th match ball… Great match that was, two gentlemen, played in a perfect spirit.

I soooo love squash.

Omar:

I played against Mazen a few days ago in the Egyptian Leagues, and he was just back from injury, I beat him 3/0 but it gave him confidence, and he played very well today.

I was not sure it was a good idea for me to play in the Nationals just before El Gouna, but I’m playing for my club Heliopolis, plus, my coaches Islam, Shabana and my brother told me it would be good for me. After the British Open, I was so tired, I didn’t play squash at all for a week, so this is a good way for me to get back into the competition.

I hope to do well here, and also in El Gouna, that will help my rankings…!

Mazen is so hard to play against, he is so unexpected, he has so many tricky shots, so you have to be steady and focused the whole time, and make sure you stick to your own game and not fall into his.

First game, I was playing well, but it gave me too much confidence, and I relaxed too much in the second. Third was crucial, I had in mind that I could win in 4 if I was to win that third. And it did work.

Now, I’m going to rest a bit, relax, watch Abou and Zahed play, chill out, and get ready for my final tomorrow….
 

Zahed:

I was looking forward to this tournament…

My coaches Amr Mansi and Ahmed Shohayeb were telling me before the match to just forget about everything, take one match at a time, and just believe in myself…. I need to thank Ahmed Shohayeb a lot, he really helped me so much…

Yesterday, I played really well against Karim, I was 16/14 in the 4th and today, I was trying to get my revenge from last time we played, it was in Finland 3 years ago, I lost the match 3/0, and we never played since!

I was getting used to the court again, I didn’t play on there for a long time, so I lost the first game 11/1, and he was playing very very well, finding amazing shots.

In the second and third, I was trying to push him to make unforced errors, keeping the ball going, making sure he would get frustrated, and get impatient.

In the 4th I got a bit tired, but in the 5th, I reached 10/7 but after that, it was anybody’s game!!!

I am very happy with my mental strength, yesterday getting the match 16/14 in the 4th, and today, 18/16 in the 5th!!!

Women's Semi-Finals:

Raneem El Welily 3-0 Heba El Torky   12/10, 11/4, 11/7
Nour El Tayeb 3-1 Omneya Abdel Kawy   8/11, 11/4, 11/7, 11/4

Quick affairs for the girls

I didn’t manage to see much of the ladies matches, as I missed the first games of each match. Omneya lost so much weight since the British! I mean, we are talking serious weight loss here. And if she didn’t do much wrong in the last two games I saw, the difference I feel came from hunger.

I think Nour had something to prove, to herself more than anything else – she is getting married on the 13th May – and wanted to get to that final, very very badly I feel. I think maybe Omneya is now focusing on the Worlds more – I could be wrong….

As for Raneem/Heba, I arrived in the second – having missed the most disputed game, 12/10 for Raneem. The second, Heba probably was recovering mentally from being to close to take the game.

The third was much more positive from the Alex Lady, 4/0, 5/1. Raneem, having no intention to play extra time, reassessed quickly, coming back 6/6, 7/7.We had some excellent squash in that third game, long and disputed, intense and with a lot of visiting the four corners, but the former number ones scores the last 4 points, taking the match 11/7…

Nour:

Like last week in the Heliopolis tournament, after the first game, I just burst into tears, I just couldn’t stop, I just was sobbing. Omar Elborolossy told me to let it go, and that it would pass, and help. And it did…

I had the same problem like I said in the Heliopolis tournament, I was playing my first hard match, against a 15 or 16th years old. I was shaky and scared, not sure why.

It’s like I’m putting so much pressure on myself, I want to play well, I want to do so well before my wedding on the 13th May, I want everything to be perfect, and go back like if the injury never happened. And I just put too much pressure on myself.

Today, it was the same. I think we were both a bit shaky and nervous, maybe the fact that we waiting more then 1h30m to play didn’t help I guess. We were a bit in the way of each other, but it was not intentional from either of us, just a bit nervous, and both holding the ball well.

Once I let my emotions out, I started to relax, and played better, expressed myself better on court, and saw the ball better. It’s so nice to be back on the final, not playing 3rd 4th play off, it’s my first time back in the final since 2013….

Raneem:

Our Nationals are a bit different from the normal competitions we play. Some players would like to play, but can't, like Tarek who is injured. Some played have got to play because they are contracted with their club to do so, and some players are not obligated to play, and do or don't. Nour El Sherbini is not contracted to play, but she would have had if she wasn't having her exams at the same time...

Funny thing is that we had our Leagues finals last week, and we are Heba, Omneya, Nour el Tayeb and myself in the semis! Same as this week! I'm very happy as my club Wadi Degla, won last week.

It's very nice to be back in the final again, nice to be representing my club and it's a great feeling to have my friends around me, and my coaches by my side, Haitham and Ahmed...

U19 Round One:
Nouran Gohar (Wadi Degla) 3-1 Jana Hany (Sporting)
Menna Gharib (Degla) 3-0 Zeina El Sisi (Smouha)
Zeina Mickawy (Sporting) 3-2 Nada Ihab (Degla)
Salma Tarek (Degla) bt Wafaa Ashraf (Ahly) WO
Hana Moataz (Degla) 3-0 Rawan Abdel Nasser (Baladeya)
Rawan Reda (Smouha) 3-0 Nadine Hesham (Degla)
Nada Abbas (Gezira) 3-0 Menna Hesham (Degla)
Hania El Hammamy 3-0 Mariam Magdy (Mansoura)