R2: [1] Ali Farag (Egy) 3-0 [9/16] Mohamed Abouelghar (Egy) 11-9, 11-4, 11-3 (37m)
From 6-9 down in the first, top seed Ali Farag dominates to beat Mohamed Abouelghar and conclude Day Two.
report to follow
Ali: “I don’t think I’ve felt that nervous for a match for over a year and a half,”
“I remember exactly the time I was that nervous. It’s not my type, I’m usually a laidback person but ever since I got the draw I was alright because I wasn’t into the heavy training, I was only focusing on myself. Then as the tournament was approaching, I was having sleepless nights and things that are not really me and this is what Abouelghar does to you. I could see myself going home all morning, I was preparing myself for a big match and you could see that in the first game.
“I was nervous but I knew that if I saw this through it would give me a big push psychologically and everything and unfortunately at the start of the second he felt something in his knees and he just told me that it has been hindering him for a week. I’m really sad for him but. I have to look at it in a selfish way and be happy for myself.
“Bigger than a banana skin, Mostafa is not one of the youngsters coming up anymore. He’s proven himself in the latter stages of tournaments and he’s playing really well. We saw that today, he’s had unbelievable wins and every time we play it’s never easy. I have to be on my mettle again, it’s not going to get any easy from here. It’s like the previous Black Ball but starting two rounds earlier, I’m having the same draw – it’s exciting in a way.”
🗣 "I don't think I've felt that nervous for over a year and a half!"@AliFarag kept the nerves at bay to dispatch @mabouelghar at the @BlackBallSquash – here's what the World No.1 had to say ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/L8vZzAX6zA
— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) March 20, 2021
