Gaultier Relishing 2014 Hong Kong Open Draw
by Nathan Clarke

July 23, 2014 - The Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Series will resume in the Asian city of Hong Kong on August 26, when World No.1 Gregory Gaultier will look to end the summer break in style by claiming his first ever Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open title.

The Frenchman, a four-time runner-up in the Hong Kong Open, entered the off-season in dramatic style by beating England's World No.2 Nick Matthew in the 2014 Allam British Open final, and he'll be hoping to keep up the form that has seen him hold exclusive rights  on the No.1 ranking since April.

Having won his first ever Hong Kong Open title in 2013, Matthew will be a notable absentee this year, but Gaultier will face stiff competition from a world class field including two-time World Champion Ramy Ashour and two-time World Junior Champion Mohamed Elshorbagy.

But the recently married star from Aix-en-Provence is relishing the prospect of returning to one of his favourite PSA World Series venues.

"I have just recently come back from my honeymoon so I'm back training hard and preparing for the season," said Gaultier.

"With a long break it's never easy to play well in the first event, but i'll be looking at getting some good matches in my legs and to find my marks.

"Hong Kong is early this year and, as with every event, I will look forward to it. I have lots of motivation to do well there - I have never won it so maybe this year can be the one for me.

"I always love coming to Hong Kong. After all the years playing there I have lots of friends and the event is always very well organised and they really make the players feel comfortable.

"I have never missed the Hong Kong Open and won't miss it until the end of my career."

Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open - Main Draw:

[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [Qualifier]
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v [Qualifier]
Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Max Lee (HKG) v [8] Daryl Selby (ENG)
[5] Borja Golan (ESP) v [Qualifier]
Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v [Qualifier]
Tarek Momen (EGY) v [4] James Willstrop (ENG)
[3] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Laurens Jan Anjema (NED)
Chris Simpson (ENG) v [Qualifier]
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v [7] Karim Darwish (EGY)
[6] Peter Barker (ENG) v Adrian Waller (ENG)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v [Qualifier]
Simon Rösner (GER) v [WC] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY)

The 2014 Hong Kong Open will see 56 of the world's finest players converge on Hong Kong from August 24 - August 31 to contest what is the most prestigious PSA World Tour event in Asia and the longest running tournament on the PSA World Series calendar.




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