[3] Amina Orfi (EGY) 3-2 [2] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 14-12 (106m)
A few things before I get into the details.
We had to wait until the fourth game to see Amina, 18, still a junior on paper, make a single error. And wait for the middle of the 5th for her to make another 2. So, 106m, 3 errors.
I wish she wouldn’t have to be reminded several times per match not to step into her opponent’s line. She used to take double-bounces; she doesn’t anymore. I hope she will correct that repetitive error in the same manner.
I thought that Mohamed, Amina’s Dad, was going to have several heart attacks during the match. I agree that some decisions were maybe not correct, but overreacting may not be the way forward. A bit of stepping away from the drama will only help Amina, it would seem.
As for the hand signals coming from the “coaching corner” as the refs called it, probably not the way to go either! Mind you, when you have in the following match, one of the players actually and literally voicing “should I review it” to his corner, and getting away with it… The mind boggles…
Now, back to the squash.
Of course, we all had a little wishful thought about seeing the nicest/fairest player on the tour winning her 9th title. Amina, we knew she was going to win so many of them… We were somehow hoping she would just start from next year… 🙂
But Amina… Amina is just.. something else.
It started very well for Nour, 6/0, and if Amina started to find her pace and squash, it was a bit too little, too late, 11/6 in 14m.
Same score in the second, but for Amina, leading 4/1, level 4/4, 5/5, 6/6, and Nour finding the tin three times in a row, helping the youngster to close the game, 11/6 in 15m of hard work.
The third is the turning point. Amina is the one at the front of the court. Of course, Nour is playing sublime squash, but she has to catch up with the score all the time, always a bit on the backfoot. 3/0, Amina, 5/2, 5/5, 6/6.
Like in the previous game, Amina zooms to 9/6, then 10/7. Some sublime backhand winners for Nour, 9/10, but she cannot pick up the next winner from Amina, no let confirmed by the video ref, 11/9 to the Destroyer, in 15m.
Nour finds the same energy she had in the first game: she is accurate, bold, fast, and takes the game in 14m, 6/3, 9/4, 11/7. We are in a decider.
The 5th is a rollercoaster of emotions. The crowd, chanting Nour’s name, seem to want the Queen of the Court to win. Does it disturb the youngster? I don’t think it did. She was so focused, so mature, so in the zone.
4/1, 9/4. Amina is picking up everything Nour is throwing at her. And that’s a lot. The ref(s) are being kept busy, so many decisions, video decisions, and so many winners from Nour!
She is now back at 8/9, but an error gives Amina first match ball, 10/8. Stroke to Nour, 9/10. A backhand low drive, and we are back at 10/10. The crowd – and the VIP section – is chanting Nour, Nour, Nour. The atmosphere is incredible.
Another backhand low drive, and it’s match ball for Nour. But a powerful crosscourt kill from Amina cancels it. 11/11/
A second match ball thanks to a video decision stroke, 12/11. A gutsy volley drop from Amina, 12/12.
A gigantic rally, amazing quality after more than a hundred minute of play, the crowd is completely silent, it’s impressive, but an error from Nour, 13/11. The last game last 37 minutes.
And against all odds, it’s the youngster that “goes for it”, and it works. No let says the video ref. Nour is beaten. We have a new World Champion.
Amina : “Honestly I don’t know what to say.
“At 9-4 in the fifth, I started to think a lot, she came back and a bunch of decisions didn’t really go my way. At that point I just stuck to my gameplan, kept out my errors and waited until she made the error.
“At the end I knew that we were both tired, and that last shot I kind of knew she was leading towards the other side, so I just played it. I’m thankful that the review was a no-let.
“This will add so much to my confidence. I’m speechless. I worked so hard and had so many tough losses this season. However, in the end I wouldn’t have wanted it to go any other way. Up until this tournament, I was satisfied with what I had done, but I knew I could do better.
“I knew there was going to be pressure on both of them [El Hammamy and ElSherbini]. Hania being World No.1 and Nour being a title away from breaking the record. I knew I had the least pressure and I went for it.
“I’m just so happy.”
