Greg Goes For Mexican Double
by Howard Harding

25 August 2013 - France's world No2 Gregory Gaultier returns to Mexico next month in a bid to retain the Abierto Mexicano de Raquetas title he won at the inaugural championship last year.

The 2013 PSA World Tour International 70 squash event takes place on an all-glass court at Alameda Park in Mexico City from 17-22 September - with former world number one Gaultier leading a high-quality field including four players from the world's top ten.

The 30-year-old from Aix-en-Provence begins the defence of his title against a qualifier - and is expected to meet Egypt's Mohamed Elshorbagy in the final. The 22-year-old world No6 from Alexandria fell to the Frenchman in the 2012 quarter-finals.

Distinguished Egyptian Amr Shabana - the four-time world champion who won the first of his 31 Tour titles at the Puebla Open in Mexico in 1999 - is the event's No3 seed, while top-ranked Spaniard Borja Golan is the fourth seed.

Last year's runner-up Omar Mosaad is the highest-ranked unseeded player in the draw. The world No11 from Cairo faces a qualifier in the opening round.

Cesar Salazar leads local interest in the event. The 25-year-old from San Luis Potosi - winner of three titles on the PSA World Tour - faces Elshorbagy in the first round.

1st round draw:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Qualifier
Tom Richards (ENG) v Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
[4] Borja Golan (ESP) v Qualifier
Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Qualifier
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Qualifier
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [WC] Cesar Salazar (MEX)