R1: [3] Camille Serme (FRA) 3-0 Melissa Alves (FRA) 11-7, 11-7, 11-3 (33m)
A difficult task for both of them, as those two are truly close friends, share rooms, train together, and are both two great gals really. As Melissa mentioned, “playing somebody on a regular basis is an advantage if you managed to beat them every time you play. And we know that is not the case for me as she beat me all the time, although I manage to sneak a few games here and there!”
If last time they played – here, back in March – their only encounter on the PSA Tour, the 4 others having been in the French Nationals, 4/0 to Cam – Camille dominated her friend “de la tête et des épaules”, today, Melissa made Camille work hard for a victory, and even got a “come on” out of her at 5/5 in the first game….
A good decent game, between two fair players, fluid squash, very few decisions, lovely to watch.
Melissa
It’s much better than the last time we played, I cannot be as disappointed with my performance than I was in March 2020 here.
What made the difference is the consistency to keep the discipline and the intensity throughout. I can keep up with her up to mid game, but at 6/6, 7/7, she just plays the important points better. She is more accurate, more decisive.
The only positive point I think is that she had to elevate her level of game today, I pushed her a bit, and I can take pride in that.
I was able to keep up in two games, the third, well, what to say but a catastrophic start, no, really, catastrophic doesn’t start to cover it. I’m not sure why actually, as I wasn’t in a depressed-I-lost mood at all.
I just hope that I can get to play other players, and maybe one day, I’ll see Camille for one of the top 5 girls, and I’ll manage to go and challenge them, and beat them. One day.
Camille
I am happy with my performance. It was not easy to play Melissa. We knew the draw for a few weeks but I really had to prepare mentally for this match. We are not only teammates, but we are good friends. We spend a lot of time together, so it was not easy, but I had to give it my all to beat her.
You have to remember that it is our job. Being No.4 in the world, you have to be World No.1 one day, so you have to forget who you are playing. You have to do your best, focus on what you have to, and to mentally be ready.
