[6] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Joelle King (NZL) 7-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5 (52m)
Today on court, we had three chicken legs. Well, that’s how Amanda used to call herself after she had her first ruptured Achille’s tendon. Same injury for Joelle a few months before that, and then Amanda reiterated with her second Achille’s tendon. As she said at the time, “thank GOD I have only two legs”
I saw Joelle play yesterday, and we had two different Kiwi between yesterday on the traditional court and today, the glass. The “Old Joelle” was back, with her fantastic mixing of shots, perfect height crosscourts, amazing volleying, findind some incredible winners. And Amanda struggled a bit in the begining, 6/1 Joelle, 11/7 in 9m, only 4 winners for Amanda.
The second seemed to go on the same pattern, 8/2 but Amanda found her best attacking rhythm and shots, clinching that second, 11/9, 8 winners for the American, but still 7 for Joelle. High quality.
Joelle was very much in the third, 6/3 and closed it in 8m 11/6, but Amanda levelled in the 4th, 5/0, a good clawing back from the Kiwi, 6/6, but we are in the 5th, 11/8, 9m…
The fifth finally sees a tired Joelle. The winners on the first games are now finding the tin, and Amanda feels the finishing line, perfect accuracy, fast to the front and very incisive shots, 3/0, and if Joelle is still in it at 6/4, it’s Amanda reluctantly, 11/5, 8m game, with 8 unforced errors from Joelle…
🗣️ "That's an 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙨 shot" 😲
Joelle King has flown out of the blocks here in the first match of the day at the @OPTASIAsquash 🔥
📺 Tune in LIVE on @SquashTV#OptasiaChampionships pic.twitter.com/LTUdRZMkyR
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) March 26, 2025
Joelle : I LOVED THAT TODAY!
I haven’t really play that much squash over the last two years, but because I have got a bit of a run on, I feel better each match, I feel a bit more confident in what I’m trying to do.
You can feel good in training but it’s not until you come and play against the top girls like Amanda you don’t honestly know where you are at.
The part that was the most disappointing was when I was up 8/2 in the second, those are the differences when you are not playing enough that you just don’t let someone like Amanda back in.
But apart from that, it was a really positive thing for me. Both of us played some really beautiful classic squash I would call it, the defence/attack, quite structured but when the other player had the opportunities, and it was really clean, free flowing, everybody just trying to play the ball. There was hardly any decisions.
The fifth, I feel she was just more zoomed in and knew how to take it first but like I said, the more I play again, without putting too much pressure on my body – my body was really good considering, the strapping came off the knee – the more confident I get. Overall, it was a good performance.
Amanda : “Between myself and Joelle we have got a lot of surgeries, it’s always going to be a tough battle. Everyone knows the level she’s capable of and it was just enjoyable to play another season veteran and compete out there.
“Although it was quite hard to shift the mindset to a noon shift, it was just awesome to compete against her and see her back and us battling it out in five games.
“My body is holding up well. I’m backing up performances and moving well. That nowadays is a huge plus. I know that my squash is there, so if I’m enjoying my movement, I’m in a good place.
“I went out on court last week and had fun, and I’m just trying to do that again this week.“I think honestly the big thing I’m learning now is that if you lose, get back up and try again. Get right back up and keep moving forward because it will only make you feel stronger.”
