R2: Torrie prevails on dangerous Katerina

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[3] Torrie Malik (ENG) 3-0 Katerina Tycova (GER)  11-9, 11-8, 11-9 (42m)

Very intense match today between English Torrie Malik, 21, WR42, and Katerina Tycoca, from Germany, 26, WR109.

I was impressed yesterday with the intensity the German brings to the game, and today again, she was impressive. Torrie seemed a bit slower than usual, but that was maybe because of the sharpness of her opponent’s short game.

A few exchanges between Torrie and the official after some decisions that could be called a bit surprising, but what do I know…

Still, the English girl, who came fly off and lose her focus sometimes, didn’t let the emotions get the best over her. She had to work very hard to contain the ever so dangerous Katerina, moving well, attacking superbly and getting back a lot too. What cost her the match were a few errors too many at crucial times. But intense and dynamic game for sure.

A very enjoyable battle that was, even if a contact scared Katerina in the third at 5/6 for the German. The game was interrupted for about 5 minutes while she received ice on her left Achilles’ tendon. She was able to get back to the game and kept pushing her opponent, 6/6, 7/7, 8/8, 9/9.

A superb return of serve for the English sets up a match ball, and a last error from the German closes the match, 11/9.

Torrie

I’m very happy to get off in three games.

This is nowhere near the best I can play, and how I have been playing. I didn’t play the attacking game I usually can. I felt very sluggish; I couldn’t really get those hard shots off the racquet as I normally can.

She was playing well, and she capitalised on the fact I wasn’t playing well, and that’s all credit to her. She was able to attack more because my length was poor, I had a couple of good length, and that was it. No good length, my shots were loose, I was crosscourting too much.

I wasn’t moving to the front wall well today. I’ve been moving better recently, but today was probably like 10 steps back. So I need to get some good sleep before my match tomorrow and get these legs moving.