R1: Rowan Elaraby 3-0 Tsz-Wing Tong

Rowan :

Today’s match was really important to me. Playing the first round in such a big event is nerve-wracking. I always feel the pressure, as you know.

After Gouna, I took a few days off with my friends, doing nothing, just hanging out, and enjoying, relaxing, and remembering I had another life. That helped me for my preparation for this tournament.

I trained really hard in the past 10 days, and that gave me a lot of confidence in my game. I made sure I put the work in, show up every day, giving it my 100% even when I’m tired. Yes, it made a huge difference in my confidence level.

Engy my coach is a great person. And you need a great person at your side. She is a very good person and what she does in my life is bring positivity. Any bad negative energy I might have, any fault I’ve made, she’ll turn it around into something positive. Also, she has been there, she played those tough matches, she knows what it takes out of you. It’s nice to have a woman’s perspective. But I also added Sergany, who is working with Hana Moataz as well, he is a great addition as well.

Malak who I am playing next round is an up and coming Egyptian player. That generation is so fierce, they are not afraid of anything or anybody, they don’t care who you are. It’s fun playing them. I have played her once in Chicago so I know what to expect. I watched her this morning, and I will have a game plan ready.