Black Ball Open RD2: Shahin Prevails in all Egyptian Battle

World No.20 Nadine Shahin prevailed in an entertaining five-game battle with fellow Egyptian and World No.67 Hana Ramadan to reach the third round of the CIB Black Ball Squash Open taking place in Cairo, Egypt this week.

Shahin started off strongly, hitting a number of winners and show great flexibility and athleticism to pick up everything Ramadan threw at her to take a two-game lead at the Platinum event.

“It’s fast and ferocious stuff!”@Nadeen_Shaheen and @hanaramadann are going all out in Cairo!

Terrific retrieving from the two#BBSO20 pic.twitter.com/zE08pxlljt

— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) March 9, 2020

Ramadan, who was initially a reserve player for this tournament, kept her composure though and forced Shahin into a number of errors to fight back from two games down and level the scores.

The rallies between the two young Egyptians continued to keep the crowd inside the Black Ball Sporting Club entertained in the fifth, with both players pushing each other to their limits.

Ramadan took the lead in the decider, leading 4-1, before Shahin reigned her back in with her sharp play to hold three match balls, which Ramadan to push it to the tie-break.

No.15 seed Shahin held her nerve when it came to the big points though as she took an 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 8-11, 12-10 victory and book her place in the last 16.

She will face either England’s Millie Tomlinson or four-time World Champion Nour El Sherbini.

“Obviously the whole match was mentally tough more than physically,” said Shahin afterwards.

“At 10-10, we left nothing on court and gave it our best. I think it was maybe just a bit of experience that helped in the end. I’ve played more matches than her and been in this situation more than her, so I think the mental side and experience made the difference.

“Me and Hana are really good friends. We’ve been playing each other since our junior years, so it was never an easy match and it was always competitive. I know what to expect and knew it was going to be hard either way.”

Result:
[15] Nadine Shahin (EGY) bt Hana Ramadan (EGY) 3-2: 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 8-11, 12-10 (52m)