Matthew Marches Into CWC Semis from PSA Media
photos Steve Line, squashpics.com
25TH MAR 2015 -
Nick Matthew kept alive hopes of winning the Canary Wharf Classic title
for a second consecutive year, and a fifth time in total, with a tough
3-1 win over dangerous Egyptian talent Fares Dessouki in the
quarter-finals at London’s East Wintergarden today.
The 34-year-old, who is gunning to complete a hat-trick of tournament
wins on the PSA World Tour after claiming both the Swedish Open and
Windy City Open in recent weeks, was given a stern test by the
20-year-old from Alexandra during a 76-minute battle – his longest
match at the event since beating James Willstrop to the 2012 title in a
78-minute encounter.
But the three-time World Champion’s experience told in the end as he
absorbed everything Dessouki threw at him, at times withstanding a
barrage of attacking shots, to see out the match 11-7, 10-12, 11-7,
11-8.
“Fares is a fearless young guys and it was a very tough match – there was only really a couple of points in it,” said Matthew.
“All credit to him because he played with a lot of discipline and
attacked at the right times but I think it was just a case of a little
bit of experience helping me at the end.”
Matthew will now face compatriot Daryl Selby in Thursday’s semi-finals for a place in the final.
Result:
[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [8] Fares Dessouki (EGY) 3-1: 11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 11-8 (76m)
