CIB Black Ball Open: Shahin Recovers to Take Out Mendez

Egypt’s World No.17 Nadine Shahin recovered from a game down against USA’s World No.41 Haley Mendez to win 10-12, 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 and reach the second round of the CIB Black Ball Open, taking place in Cairo, Egypt this week.

Mendez got off to the better start, slowing the pace of the match down well and breaking up Shahin’s hard hitting brand of squash to take the first game, 12-10.

However, Shahin soon got back on track, playing ruthless and keeping the temp of the match high to comfortably close out the next three games and extend her winning record to four games over Mendez.

The Egyptian will face the winner of the all-American battle between Amanda Sobhy and Olivia Fiechter in the next round of the PSA World Tour Gold event.

“I’m not used to playing matches that early,” said 23-year-old Shahin.

“I know Haley always gets off to a good start. We’ve played a few times, I know how to play her and I’m just happy to close that one out.

“I knew I needed to keep a fast pace, it’s comfortable for me and uncomfortable for her – It’s my type of game.”

Mendez said: “I haven’t thought about our last two matches, because for me, there is a before COVID and an after COVID. It’s so hard to evaluate a player’s form, it depends if they had access to courts.

“I think I might have surprised her today, I just snuck out of the reserve list a few days ago, and she might have thought it was an easy draw. So I was happy with my first game but after that, I lost a bit of my length, maybe the ball died out a bit, and anything in the middle she would just kill it.

“I’m very happy with the way I played the two first game, I did all I could and that’s what counts.”

Result:
[15] Nadine Shahin (EGY) bt Haley Mendez (USA) 3-1: 10-12, 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 (33m)