[8] Melissa Alves (FRA) 3-1 Mariam Metwally (EGY) 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7 (43m)
French No.1 Melissa Alves recovered from a second-game blip to defeat Egypt’s Mariam Metwally and advance to the quarter-finals of the Optasia Championships 2025.
No.8 seed Alves, who has already captured three titles so far this season on the PSA Squash Tour, advanced to the last eight of the Gold-level event by an 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7 scoreline.
Today, the key was LENGTH! Who ever got the better length would get the point. And Mariam seriously lacked of it in the first game, but eventually found her range a bit better…
Despite a tough five-game battle in round one against Torrie Malik, she started the better of the two players, adjusting to the court quickly and finding her range in the front areas of the court. However, from 5-1 down, Alves began to grow into the ascendancy, firstly drawing herself level and soon after wrapping up the first game after nine minutes of action.
The second game was a tale of two halves. Alves started the stronger of the two with some strong lines and lengths, but from 7-4 up, the errors began to creep into her game. A couple of tins from the Frenchwoman opened the door for Metwally, and the World No.37 took full advantage, reeling off seven of the following nine points to draw level.
Mariam
My body is so stiff from my last match against Torrie. Just a bit tired, I was trying to push but it didn’t work as it did last match.
I was trying to give it my all but I don’t think I played my best squash, whereas Melissa played really well today, she was controlling, she was moving really well, getting everything back. And I was asking for far too many lets, that annoyed me as well.
It felt like I wasn’t 100% on court today, but all credit to Melissa’s quality.
That is a lovely feathered drop from @melissalves973 😮💨#OptasiaChampionships pic.twitter.com/lBZh4rdEMw
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) March 27, 2025
Melissa
“I was seeded in the top eight at the last minute [due to injuries]. So the goal was to reach at least the quarters. I knew that playing Mariam that she is a very tricky player and today I think that she showed all of her skills.
“I’m not sure that I played exactly how I wanted to, but I’m just happy that I made her play that extra shot and eventually I got the win. Credit to her for playing some great squash.
“It’s tough whenever you lead a game and then you lose it. Especially when you’re close to a 2-0 lead. These are the moments, though, that you have to go through if you want to become a great player and get closer to the top 15 and top 10.
“You have to know how to manage these moments and I’m just happy I managed to win those last two games.”
