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The 24-year-old, who made her Grand Slam main
draw debut at Roland Garros last year, toughed out a 7-5 7-5 win
over fellow-qualifier Chloe Paquet on Court Six.
"Obviously it means a lot because finally this is barrier that I
had to pass, a mental barrier," Sherif told reporters.
"With the conditions that are here it was very, very tough to
adapt to it, especially to adapt my game to it. It took us
awhile. Courts are faster, the heat, everything happens so fast,
very tough to control the ball.
"Very, very happy with my accomplishment and I'm going for more.
That's it."
Sherif, who went to college in the United States and trains in
Spain, said being a trailblazer for Egyptian sport had been a
motivating factor in her career.
"I feel very supported from the Egyptian people, from my
partners, my sponsors," the world number 131 added.
"It's been great, and honestly it's just pushing me forward and
forward because I feel that there are so many people behind me."
Sherif, who qualified in Dubai before making her way to
Melbourne for quarantine, said she was regularly recognised on
the streets back home and hoped to inspire other Egyptians to
believe they can succeed in tennis.
"I want them to believe in themselves and to see me and look at
me and say that we can be like her," she added.
"When someone tells me, 'Oh, I wish one day to be like you', I
go, 'No, you have to be better, you have to achieve something
more, you have to go for more'."
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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