Curtis Malik (ENG) 3-2 Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-5, 5-11, 11-3, 3-11, 12-10 (50m)
Next opponent : Joel Makin
Curtis : “I’m in a bit of disbelief. To beat someone of Mohamed Abouelghar’s calibre is pretty unreal. I went into the match knowing that I could do well as I’ve had a good couple of weeks in the last few tournaments and I feel like I’m playing good squash. I was really pleased to get over the line in the fifth.
“That was one of the most mentally tough games I’ve played as one minute I’m playing the squash of my life, the next game I was playing the worse squash and he was playing really well then it happened again. Once the fifth game came I was hoping I’d play like I did in the first and third games, and luckily I did but we both started to play well at the same time. I was so glad to have held onto the fifth game.
“It gives me a lot of confidence, knowing I can beat these guys and I’ve had a lot of close ones and I’ve lost 3-2. To get over the line in the fifth gives me plenty of confidence for the rest of the tournament and going forwards.”
