mixed fortunes for the Algerians

ORAN – The Algerian players successfully entered the tennis tournament of the 19th edition of the Mediterranean Games-2022 in Oran (June 25 – July 6), which began on Monday at the Habib Khelil tennis club in Hai Salem, while the gentlemen left the competition in the first rounds.

Amira Benaissa showed her teammates the way by beating Portugal’s Maria Ines Fonte (2-1) in the first round of the singles draw.

The native of Oran lost the first set 5-7, before setting the record straight at 7-6. In the third set, decisive to decide between the two players, Benaissa won 6-4, in a match that lasted more than 3h and 30m.

In the second round scheduled for Tuesday, Benaissa will challenge the Spanish Guiomar Maristany Zuleta, seeded N2.

For her part, Ines Ibbou, exempted from the first round, will be opposed on Tuesday to Moroccan Yassmine Kabaj.

In doubles, the Algerian pair composed of Ines Ibbou and Ines Bekrar completed their ticket for the quarter-finals (women’s doubles), thanks to a victory over the Portuguese Maria Ines Fonte and Mariana Alves Campino by two sets to nil (6- 3, 6-2). In the quarterfinals, they will face the Spanish duo Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Guiomar Maristany Zuelta.

”Amira Benaissa had a good singles match by winning the first round in three sets. Ditto for the Ibbou-Beekrar pair who scored their ticket for the quarter-finals of the double table. The adventure continues for them and we wish them a good continuation”, declared to the APS, the director of national teams (DEN) of the Algerian Tennis Federation (FAT), and the team captain of the national selection. ”Ladies”, Noujeim Hakimi.

If the Algerians made a success of their entry, it was not the same case for the gentlemen who left the competition prematurely.

Algerian tennis player Toufik Sahtali was the first to leave this Oran meeting after a defeat conceded to Egyptian Maamoun Karim Mohamed (6-3, 7-6) in 2 hours and 41 minutes of play.

Ditto for his compatriot Youcef Rihane who lost, to everyone’s surprise, against the Turkish Kirci Koray in two sets (6-3,6-2).

The same fate was reserved for the Algerians in the doubles event. The Youcef Rihane-Samir Hamza Reguig duo lost to Slovenians Maj Premzil and Sebastian Dominko 6-3 4-6 (8-10)

”I admit that our boys faced a strong Slovenian team in doubles. Ours did what was necessary but they lost the second set and the decisive points of the match. Now we have to draw the conclusions to bounce back during the Davis Cup in August. In singles, I guess Sahtali was stressed in the first set and he missed his match start. In the second set, he was able to take the advantage but unfortunately he had a little discomfort which destabilized him,” said Noujeim Hakimi.

And to continue: “Youcef (Rihane, editor’s note) gave a good performance. Unfortunately, he was up against a very solid player. He tried to race in the lead but he got broken after losing a few balls. In the second set, it was balanced at the beginning but Youcef missed two game points, and practically, it’s the same scenario of the first set.

Sixty-nine (69) players including thirty (30 ladies) from eighteen (18) countries were registered for this ”Mare Nostrum” meeting.

Program of the second day (Tuesday June 28):

10 a.m.: 1/8th final (men’s and women’s singles)

Not before 11:30 a.m.: 1/8th round (men’s and women’s singles)

4:00 p.m.: 1/8th final (men’s and women’s singles)

Not before 6 p.m.: 1/4 final (men’s and women’s doubles).