Nele Gilis caused a stunt in Egypt on Thursday evening by knocking home player and number 1 in the world Nour El Sherbini out of the prestigious El Gouna International squash tournament. “I had nothing to lose,” said our compatriot afterwards.
Nele Gilis had to compete in the semifinals in Egypt against seven-time world champion Nour El Sherbini, the number 1 in the world. Gilis had never been able to win a set against the Egyptian, but smeared the top favorite with a dry 3-0 loss.
Gilis is the first Belgian ever to reach the final of a Platinum event, the highest level on the PSA World Tour. It goes without saying that the win against El Sherbini was a huge boost for Gilis, himself the number 8 in the world.
“I was very relaxed and had nothing to lose. Besides, she wasn’t at her best. But nevertheless you still have to take your chances when they come,” says Gilis.
I was very relaxed and had nothing to lose, but I never thought it would be 3-0.
“I never thought it would be 3-0. It’s a bit surreal and I’m more than happy!”
To beat the Egyptian topper, Gilis had to “be confident in her strokes”. “I had to commit myself to playing volley, staying ahead of her and having confidence in my strokes that I’ve been practicing for years,” she explained.
“I could never win if I didn’t do that. Fortunately, it ended well,” said Gilis, who will play the final on Friday evening. Then our compatriot with number 2 Nouran Gohar again looks an Egyptian in the eye.
2023-06-02 12:35:42
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