R1: Session 2 Yahya 3/0 Balazs Karim 3/1 Iker

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Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 3-1 Iker Pajares (ESP)   7-11, 11-6, 11-3, 3-0 rtd (56m)
Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) 3-0 Balazs Farkas (HUN)  13-11, 11-8, 11-5 (34m)

First game was crucial in the Egyptian/Hungary contest, 16m of very hard work, the next two still intense but much shorter, and the Egyptian closing it down in 34m

The latter stages of the first game between Elnawasany and World No.39 Balzs proved crucial in the outcome of the match, with the Egyptian staving off a game ball before coming through to take the opener 13-11, and take the subsequent two games by 11-8 and 11-5 scorelines.

Yahya : “I have played Farkas a couple of times in the past before and not got the result, so I’m really happy to be through in three games today. The end of the first game was really important. I felt that I was in control at 7-5 up, and then he got three quick points, and then the game completely changed and we got into a tense situation at 10-10 and 11-11.

“I’m happy I got through that tie-break, I tried to push hard and I’m glad it went my way because I know that the first game is so important, it might have been a different story.

“Farkas has such a unique game compared to other players on the tour. You’re not used to that kind of player when you practice, so I watched a lot of matches of his.

“I have played him a little bit in the past as well, so I knew what to expect from him unpredictability-wise. I’m glad that I could adapt to how he changed the game.”

Iker injured

His foot has been troubling him for a few months now. He sorts it out, then comes back to play and it starts again hurting him.

And today was no different. A very good first game, 16m. The second starts well for the Spanish, he is keeping up with the Egyptian’s mid pace squash, and at 5/5, we had played 15m already! Attritional rallies with Iker taking the initiative to end the long rallies.
But suddenly, no more long rallies, Iker going for too much, too soon, forcing it. Not his normal game at all. Karim is now in control, patient and accurate, finding some lovely winners, and it’s 11/6 in 21m.

Iker will try to compete, but it’s obvious something is not right and after losing the third 11/3, he retires at 3/0 down in the 4th. Truly shame as Iker is truly one of the good flighter, clean and patient, and I was really looking forward to that battle between them.

Karim : For a month and a half, I’m playing more consistently, taking the right opportunity to attack, I don’t make too many mistakes anymore.

But today, the complete opposite happened at the beginning of the match. I found myself 4/1 down, with 4 tins from me! That started to play on my mind, am I going to do this, AGAIN?? So my body was tense, so I said ok, I will just reset and I will keep playing just long rallies to the back again until I find my balance.

It happened at the end of the first game, and it was too late and I couldn’t convert. Then in the second game, I started well, but the key moments were when we were 3/3, 4/4, 5/5. When you play Iker, you have to attack but at the right time because he’s got a very dangerous counterdrop and he is very fit. So it was crucial I took that second.

I’m happy I kept my focus, that I could convert this game, but I’m very sorry for him to end the match like this. I really don’t like winning like this, I like to fight for every point till the end. So I just wish him a speedy recovery.