[1] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 3-0 [Q] Caroline Fouts (USA) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (28m)
Caroline
It was my first time on the glass at the worlds. I thought it was a really cool environment.
I’m the kind of player who thrives off the environment. So playing on a big stage is something that I look forward to, that I thrive to get to.
And it’s the best it gets, playing at the world championship the current world number one, and on the best stage in the world, it embraces all the goals that I worked for.
So it was a great experience to finally meet those goals. So now, I just need to set up new goals, and keep going.
I felt that my play on the backhand was pretty strong against her. Obviously, she is very quick, but what I could have done better was to anticipate her crosscourts to my forehand. I like playing on the backhand, I know she is very strong on the backhand, but she really got me on the forehand with that crosscourt.
But I was very happy with how aggressive I was playing on the backhand with those kills in straight lines…
Hania
“I feel happy with the performance, it’s my first time playing against Caroline and she’s very solid, especially on the backhand side. I think I thought that if she’s too good on the backhand side, that I’d keep playing there and try to beat her, but I think she got most of the points on that side.
“Overall, I think the weather was a little bit warmer today, with the wind, so it was much better.
“It’s exciting, we’re approaching the end of the season – I think we’ve played against almost all of the players so many times, so I think it’s good to challenge myself when playing different opponents. Obviously, different styles of play for those opponents, which is a good challenge for me. It makes me stronger mentally, trying to find solutions mid-game and mid-points as well.”
