ALBUM PHOTOS
[8] Rana Ismail (EGY) 3-0 [1] Lucy Turmel (ENG) 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, retired (33m)
[4] Marie Stephan (FRA) 3-0 [7] Alicia Mead (ENG) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (30m)Nour Heikal (EGY) 3-0 [6] Menna Hamed (EGY) 11-9, 11-5, 11-8 (28m)
[2] Melissa Alves (FRA) 3-0 [5] Torrie Malik (ENG) 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 (40m)
RANA ISMAIL MAKES THE SEMIS AFTER LUCY TURMEL RETIRES INJURED
There was some drama in quarterfinal night as #1 seed Lucy Turmel had to retire in her match against Rana Ismail.
The English player had hurt her ankle in practice in the morning, and her movement was clearly impeded from the start. Her opponent took full advantage to take the lead, and although Turmel fought bravely to level the score, she decided to stop after losing the third game – maybe with the upcoming World Team Championship at the back of her head.
“It’s not the way I wanted to win, and I wish her to recover quickly,” said the 20-year old Egyptian, who studies Nutrition & Health at the University of Roheampton in England. “It’s not easy to play against someone who’s injured because if you focus too much on that you can start making some mistakes. Having said that, I am still happy with the way I played, it’ll be my first semis in a 20k and I am very excited about tomorrow.”
Ismail will face France’s Marie Stéphan, who was a little tense at the beginning of her quarterfinal against Alicia Mead but managed to relax after winning the first game. She then took control of proceedings to come out as the victor, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7.
“I didn’t play well in the previous round, which is why I was a bit nervous at the start,” said the #4 seed. “Thankfully, I managed to relax and I am pretty happy with the way I played at the front of the court today. When I was young I was essentially playing at the back, it’s difficult to change your habits but you have to if you want to succeed at this level. We’ve been focusing on that with my coach for a while, sometimes he gets frustrated because I don’t do as well in matches as I do in training …”
After upsetting world #47 Emilia Soini in the round of 16, Nour Heikal continues her superb run in the Monte Carlo Classic 2022. She beat fellow Egyptian and #6 seed Menna Hamed – who won a 6k event in Cognac last week – in straight games, 11-9, 11-5, 11-8.
The first game was a close affair, but as the match went on the 19-year old started to display her attacking skills and hit a flurry of winners from every corner of the court.
“Attacking is always my gameplan, but sometimes I hit the tin more often than I would like,” she said with a huge smile on her face after the match. “Today was definitely a good day, I am very happy about the way I played against a very tough opponent and it’s a great result for me.”
In the semis, Heikal will challenge #2 seed Mélissa Alves, who got past the young and upcoming Torrie Malik in 4 games. The 18-year old from England got off the blocks very quickly and was able to clinch the first game 11-9. But the French number 1 got into the match and controlled the rallies throughout the rest of the match to win 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4.
“She hits the ball pretty hard,” said Alves about her opponent after the match. “In this kind of match, you’re at risk of losing if your accuracy is not good enough, but if it is things can change quickly. That’s why I was not too worried after first game, and I am happy I managed to win the next three pretty comprehensively.”
The semifinals will therefore feature two France v Egypt clashes, Mélissa Alves now being the clear favourite after Lucy Turmel’s retirement
