QF: High Quality squash but Salma retires sick vs Amina

[2] Amina Orfi (EGY) 3-0 [7] Salma Hany (EGY)  12-10, 11-9, 5-2 ret. (49m)

What a shame!

This was such an intense, incredibly high quality game between two warriors that had no intention of giving away an inch of their territory.

Not sure that the tactical choices from Salma to go for shots on a boiling hot court (42° at 6pm), but now I understand. The girl was sick, and probably didn’t want to make the rallies too long. She failed there, bless her, as the first game was 19m, and the second 21m.

Salma was up 10/7 in the opener, and that’s probably the turning point of the match. Amina finds her best squash, her best accuracy, and digs in with the very loud support of his parents, scoring 5 points in row.

Salma was treading a couple of points behind the whole game, but dug in sooo deep, working her opponent to the bones, and clawed back at the business end, 8/9, saving a game ball as well, 10/8, 9/10 but it’s still Amina with a stroke… 11/9.

Salma just couldn’t see herself winning another 3 games from that point I guess, and retired. Her coach told me she was pretty sick. Well hat off to her for finding the strength of producing such a performance tonight.