SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open: Gohar Keeps Composure to Reach Semi-Finals

Nouran Gohar came out on top of a scrappy, all-Egyptian clash with Farida Mohamed in the SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open quarter-finals. 

The World No.2, playing just her second match since returning from injury, needed to call on all her experience to get past the No.8 seed, in a match that featured its fair share of contact and an injury break for Mohamed. 

Play started at a blistering, hard-hitting pace, but it was Mohamed who had the first chance to get her nose in front, finding herself 10-8 up with two game balls in the first. 

Gohar, though, saved both and then produced a pair of exquisite boasts – one on the backhand and one on the forehand – to win the next two points and take game one. 

The roles were reversed in game two as Gohar had four game balls of her own at 10-6, only to lose all four to force another tie break. 

Once again, though, she showed composure when she needed it, winning the next two points to take game two, and raced out of the blocks in game three, establishing an early lead. 

There had already been an abundance of contact between the players to that point, with the referee involved at every turn, but the latest collision forced Mohamed to take an injury break after hurting her jaw. 

She returned after her allocated 15 minutes, but Gohar was calm and clinical following the resumption of play, cruising through what remained of the game to secure a semi-final berth. 

“I think she’s very attacking for sure,” Gohar said after her win. 

“The movement was not very fluent I would say, and it’s always tough when it’s like this, but it’s nothing personal, it’s more just someone who wants to win. 

“You just need to find a way to forget about it and not get mad and I’m glad with the way I handled it, and in the end, I got through in three so that’s the most important part.”

When asked about keeping her cool on court, Gohar paid tribute to the team around her. 

“If that was maybe three or four years ago, I maybe wouldn’t have done the same thing so I’m very proud of that, and obviously it’s all credit to my coaches and my team. We always try to improve every single day and see where I can improve, not only in my squash but also my mental approach.  

“Maybe it wasn’t the prettiest squash, but I’d say it was the most efficient and I’m very happy with that.” 

After four months out injured, Gohar also revealed how happy she was with her physical fitness, after coming through her second match in as many days. 

“I’m feeling great to be honest,” she said. “I’m actually feeling much better than yesterday, which is a good sign I think, and I’m hoping tomorrow I can feel better than today because obviously it’s going to be a tougher match, but I’m just excited and happy to be back for sure.” 

Result: [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [8] Farida Mohamed (EGY) 3-0: 12-10, 12-10, 11-3 (54m)