R1: Enora dominate late entry Sofia only just…

Enora Villard (FRA) 3-0 Sofía Mateos (ESP)  11-9, 11-9, 11-6 (30m)

Sofia was second reserve (Joshna Chinappa was first), and arrived last night very late from Spain…

Enora

“It wasn’t easy.

I’d watched her matches — she gets a lot of balls back, sometimes a bit “all over the place” in quotes, but she still gets them back, which forces you to make the right choice every single time.

She’s also got great racket skills, so sometimes she hits these little winners out of nowhere. So I had to stay really focused.

Yes, there’s the physical side, of course, but also the mental part — making the right choices again and again. And sometimes you make the wrong one, and she’s right there, catches you out and punishing you.

Yesterday, I played at the Coupe du Stade Français — two tough matches, ten games in total. I used up quite a bit of energy.

After that, we did everything we could to recover properly — I had time for a physio session before leaving yesterday, a good night’s sleep, and this morning just a super light, minimal practice to keep all my energy. I’m happy I didn’t drop a game today so I can keep my energy for tomorrow.

Tomorrow I play Alicia Mead. My draw has changed — completely changed. At first I was supposed to have Nadia, then Zeina, and now, with the new draw, I’ve got Sofia… and I’ll be playing Alicia.”

Photo credit: @fersen_sherkann