Tesni Evans Into Second Round After Rollercoaster Match In Cairo

Tesni Evans came through a roller-coaster game in Cairo to reach the second round of the Black Ball Open in Egypt.

The 26-year-old has several match balls to complete a three games to nil victory over local player Mariam Metwally.

But World No 10 Evans ended up having to come back from 5-8 down in the deciding set to triumph in a 64 minute battle.

“I have no idea what went on,” admitted the Rhyl-based Evans after her 11-9, 11-5, 17-19, 7-11, 11-9 victory.

“I was 2-0 up and feeling really good and then I just mentally knocked off in that third game and switched off completely.

“Mariam played unbelievable in the last three games, she was absolutely going for it and I didn’t made it hard enough for her. It was such hard work to keep my head there in the fifth.

“At 8-5 down, I just thought you are not going out and leaving Egypt with that mental attitude that I was in in the fifth and before we knew it it was close. It just went my way today luckily.”

“Match balls for 3-0 but she just played so well on those and for the next two games.

Evans has started favourite for victory against a player ranked 14 places below her in the rankings as she opened her campaign in the $107,000 tournament.

And she looked to be cruising into the second round after winning the opening two games and moving within match ball in the third.

But she needed to show her comeback skills to deny the 22-year-old victory in front of her own fans.

Evans’ reward is a second round match against her friend Joelle King, the New Zealander who is seeded third for the tournament.

“It’s no secret how good friends me and Joelle are, we are actually rooming together this week,” added Evans.

“It will be another tough battle, especially with how well she is playing at the moment. I just need to recover as best I can and have another good go tomorrow.”

Cardiff-born, Rhyl-based Evans  has a good record in recent games against the World No 5 beating her in the US Open and British Open last year.