Black Ball Open QF: Clinical Weaver Ends Run Of Moataz In Three 

World No.9 Olivia Weaver continued her hunt for a third title of the calendar year after defeating Egypt’s Hana Moataz in straight games at the Black Ball Open. 

The American No.2 found her rhythm right from the offset, putting Moataz under increasing pressure in all four corners of the court. Moataz, who defeated Amina Orfi to reach her maiden Gold quarter-final last night, didn’t trouble the scoreboard in the first game, looking edgy and failing to find her power game that rewarded her so well in the previous round. 

After the game break, Moataz returned with confidence renewed, taking the game to Weaver and moving to the mid-phase of the game with the scores level. However, the lack of errors from Weaver’s racket, combined with her tight lines, helped the No.2 to double her advantage in the match. 

The two players traded points early on in the third, with Moataz constructing her rallies far better than the early stages of the match – waiting for the right opportunities before going in short. The Egyptian moved 8-7 up, but once again Weaver increased her levels in the business end of the game, taking four of the next five points to win the match in straight games.

After the match, Weaver said: “[The bagel] does not happen very often against a player as dangerous as Hana. If you get a lead, you have to run away with it. I knew after that first game that I had to keep my foot on the gas, obviously, she came back a lot stronger in the second and third and pushed my limits.

“We played once before and I know she is an incredibly talented player and a player on the rise. I’m really happy to get through that in three.

“I think [in the second and third] she looked to get a little bit more stuck in the rallies. Didn’t take it in at the first opportunity and that made it a lot tougher for me. I’m really pleased though with how I handled my game plan. She had nothing to lose, and there was some pressure on me, so I’m happy to come through it.”

Result:

[2] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt Hana Moataz (EGY) 3-0: 11-0, 11-8, 11-8 (33m)