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Mayar Sherif is not any stranger to breaking boundaries however as she embarks on her historic Olympic tennis marketing campaign, she admits her bid for a medal is “an enormous factor for Egypt”.
The 25-year-old, who’s at the moment a career-high 114 on this planet rankings, heads into the Tokyo Video games the place she is going to change into the primary Egyptian lady to play Olympic tennis.
“I will probably be very nervous simply being there, having the identify of my nation on my shirt, and I’ll play a lot with my coronary heart,” Sherif instructed BBC Sport Africa.
“Clearly, it is one of many greatest targets this 12 months, one of many highlights of the season. If I can get a medal, then that might be an unbelievable achievement.
“It is a large factor for Egypt. I’ll give the very best picture of myself on court docket, and I am unable to wait as a result of after I play with this model of me, I do finest. I take pleasure in myself on the court docket.”
Sherif, who has loved nice help from Egyptians, together with soccer star Mo Salah, says this merely fuels her motivation to achieve Japan.
“I really feel it a lot – I am very fortunate to have them on my facet,” she enthused. “I would be the finest I might be for everyone in Egypt, for the help I am getting.”
Fast on the draw
Since sealing her historic qualification for Tokyo in 2019, Sherif has loved a breakthrough interval in her profession.
At this 12 months’s Australian Open, she turned the first Egyptian woman to win a Grand Slam main draw match, having already change into the primary Egyptian lady to qualify for a Grand Slam important draw on the 2020 French Open.
“Clearly it was one of the crucial vital issues that occurred to me,” she smiled. “Simply passing this barrier is essential as a result of some gamers, even once they get to the highest 100, have by no means gone previous the qualifiers earlier than.”
Amongst her supporters throughout these Grand Slam campaigns was Liverpool’s Egyptian superstar Salah.
“That was unbelievable – he is such an important particular person, very humble – we speak right here and there. I normally begin the speak to attempt to get a few of his expertise, so he is superb and it’s extremely good to simply know I’ve a good friend like this on my facet.”
Sherif additionally counts Tunisia’s own trailblazer Ons Jabeur – a fellow north African she will be able to flip to for help – as an inspiring determine.
“Clearly we all know one another from a extremely younger age,” she stated. “She is aware of all my household, my dad and mom love her, even my sister – who’s nearer to her than I’m!
“We at all times say ‘hello’ to one another, we at all times joke round. She’s an incredible particular person, so humorous and at all times joking round with everyone. Each time she sees me, she at all times attempting to help me.”
Each Jabeur and Sherif have needed to depend on monetary help from their sponsors, and encouragement from their households and federations to climb up the ranks, whereas turning into position fashions for budding tennis hopefuls of their nations.
“It has been a dream for me for the younger ladies to come back as much as me and ask to be like me,” the Egyptian stated.
“However actually, they need to search for greater than this – to not be like me, to be higher than me – and hopefully it opens doorways for the younger technology.
“I am 100% Egyptian, I grew up in Egypt. I competed in nationwide tournaments identical to anyone who’s taking part in. We have now a lot expertise going to waste as a result of there’s not sufficient help.
“However now that sponsors are beginning to learn about tennis, hopefully many younger generations will probably be higher and higher – and make it to the highest.”
Sherif’s journey began way back and he or she’ll be hoping that she will be able to proceed to rise as each the Olympics and extra grand slams swing into view.
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