"Walled up" By An Iranian

It was a sunny day this evening. I was rushing to Petaling Jaya Police Headquaters after my mom woke me up earlier reminding me to settle all the traffic summons. Before leaving my home, I quickly packed my squash racket, few balls, extra clothes for change before running to my car.

Vahid Kianni is the name of the guy that I was supposed to play with today. I received an email from him last week asking if I would be free on Tuesday for a preliminary round. So I went to Twin Tower Fitness Center after settling my summons and waiting for him in the court. After a while, one Iranian middle age adult came inside and asking if I were Johan. We shake hand exchange news before we started the games.

We get into the court and heat up the ball and started to play. I thought that I can beat him. Seriously! I love fast beat squash. Sweating and running with full of technical games. But I can't play that type of game when playing with Kianni. He forced me to play his game. Slow and steady. It really killed my rhythm. Over-confidence gave me lots of pressure plus slow ball made me lose focus. I lost the set at 9-6.

After down first set, I reminded my self to force him playing my game. I served hard ball, gave hard return and forcing him to run at my beat. As a result, I managed to win the second at deuce point 10-9.

On the third we forced each other to play at our own beat. The points were so close to each other, 4-4, 6-6, and again we deuced at 8-8. You know, when we are getting close to a game ball, you try to tell your self not to think of it. But It usually not happened. I was in pressure to win the third. End up I lost in psychological game. Kianni sealed the game at 10-8.

We started the fourth with Kianni served and forcing my to play slow ball. He gain point by point until 5-0 when his returned hit the tin. I took the chance to gain few points. Couple of errors from both of us, made served changing hands few times. Kianni led until 7-5 before I level the game at 7-7. Again. Errors - pressure and off course experienced rules. Kianni sealed the game at 9-7 and won the match at 3-1.

It was a good game. I don't mind losing to him. Kianni deserved to win. And he did.