R2: Karim 3-1 Jonah

[5] Karim Gawad (EGY) 3-1 Jonah Bryant (ENG)  14-12, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8 (50m)

Impressed.

This was actually the first time I saw Jonah play I feel, and what a performance! He played at level squash with Karim for most of the games/rallies, putting the Egyptian under so much pressure, and creating opportunities of his own.

He is a clean, clever, talented, skillful and well-behaved player. Watching him play is a pure pleasure, and I can’t wait to see him again on there.

As for Karim, he’s still the extraordinary shotmaker/laid-back legend he always was…

 

Jonah :

I might be a bit happier later on but at the moment, I just lost, so…

I had chances and opportunities which I feel I missed and messed up, so obviously, that’s really frustrating. From a few positions, I started rushing when I had game balls in the first, I went a bit endless, too quick, and if you give Karim a loose ball, you are in a lot of troubles.

At the end also, trying to hit the ball too hard, opening the court out, being out of position, I just hit a quick winner, that’s frustating but also, it’s probably experience, so I’ve got to learn from this, you don’t see Ali Farag going hacking the ball under pressure, and putting himself out of position.

My backhand line was pretty good today, I was pretty tight on the backhand wall, putting him under a lot of pressure. A lot of my short stuff was also good. Although everything could still be better!

The goal is to improve everything, but physically, I felt quite good on there, I didn’t really got tired, it wasn’t the longest match, only 50m, but there were a lot of sharp heavy movements, and I think I managed that all right. I was feeling alright to that point anyway, don’t know how I would have felt in a fifth though.

I’m still early 19, so I’ve got a lot to learn, and hopefully, it will part of a good experience today.

Karim : 

“We haven’t met before, but I’ve seen him coming up the rankings really quickly. I’ve seen him playing really top players like Tarek Momen, yesterday beating Auguste [Dussourd]. It shows how good and strong he is, although he is only 19 years old.

“I’m looking forward to some more tough battles in the future if I have enough time to play him again. I’m really pleased with how I played, how I fought back, although he came back on the score. I fought all the way until the end of the match.

“It’s nice to be here playing in front of an amazing crowd here in the UK. It is always such a good atmosphere wherever you play in the UK. It’s amazing to be here. I had a good run in the last couple of weeks, but I’m happy that I’m finding my game back and finding my way back to the top rankings.”

 

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