Today’s Matthew-Shabana Preview
by Howard Harding
September 24, 2011 - England's world number one Nick Matthew will be looking for his tenth career win over Egypt's Amr Shabana when he takes on the four-time world champion in today's semi-finals of the ROWE British Grand Prix Squash Championship in Manchester.
But while Shabana eased past Londoner Adrian Grant in straight games to reach the last four, Yorkshireman Matthew was fully tested by England team-mate Peter Barker in a late quarter-final on Thursday before prevailing in a 78-minute four-game marathon.
"One of the best matches I've ever played was against him in New York in January," Matthew told event website www.britishsquashgrandprix.com on the eve of his fourth PSA World Tour clash with Shabana this year. "I won 12-10 in the fifth - but it could have gone either way.
"His record speaks for itself: You don't win four world titles without having something special," added the 31-year-old from Sheffield.
The Egyptian is returning to top form after an injury layoff.
"Not many people would have been able to cruise through an event like this the way he has after not playing a tournament for six months," continued the event favourite.
But Matthew is also at the top of his game after winning two gold medals in last year's Commonwealth Games and going on to become the first Englishman ever to become world champion.
"One of the best wins of my career was against Amr in last year's World Open semi-finals - it was a massive confidence-booster which helped me go on to win the title."
Matthew and Shabana will meet in the second ROWE British Grand Prix semi-final at the National Squash Centre in Manchester at 4.00pm today (Saturday 23 September) - the final taking place the following day at 3.00pm.
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