England’s Matthew Grits Teeth To March Into US Open Quarters by Nathan Clarke
photos squashpics.com
October 11, 2016
- 36-year-old Englishman Nick Matthew fought back from 2-1 down in
trademark style to thwart the charge of German Simon Rösner and secure
his place in the quarter-finals of the 2016 Delaware Investments U.S.
Open - the PSA World Series tournament taking place at Philadelphia’s
Drexel University.
Matthew, the 2007 US Open winner, suffered a surprise first round
defeat during last week’s NetSuite Open and looked like he was facing a
first ever defeat to the World No.12 when, after taking the first game,
he found himself behind to an inspired Rösner.
But Matthew responded in style, using every ounce of the Yorkshire grit
that has epitomised his career to respond in emphatic style and go 9-0
up in the fourth and force a decider that he ultimately took 11-8 to
set up a last eight encounter with rising Egyptian star Ali Farag.
“I was probably down and out there at 2-1 but thanks to my team in the
corner - without them I might have lost the belief,” said Matthew.
“I got a good start in the fourth and just told myself to stay patient.
I feel like I haven’t won a match like that in a little while so it was
important for me to win it any way possible. I kept telling myself I
had the experience of seeing out these matches and ultimately that
proved to be the case.
“I came into this match thinking Simon was the favourite and that I
have nothing left to prove and it’s the same thing in the quarters.
I’ve played Ali twice and he’s beaten me twice, so I’m just going to
enjoy it.”
Matthew was joined in the quarter-finals by perennial rival Gregory
Gaultier, the defending champion who beat New Zealand’s Paul Coll in
straight games.
The Frenchman, who won the NetSuite Open last week to come into this
event in good form, will now face Karim Abdel Gawad for a place in the
semi-finals.
“Every game was tough until about 6-6 and then I just managed to up the pace which I think made the difference,” said Gaultier.
“There were a lot of tough long rallies and he was reading me well, so
I’m pleased it ended 3-0. I’m here to play whoever is in front of me -
I’m training to win and to play as hard as possible and do whatever it
takes. I’m playing Gawad next but I have no fear and I’ll be ready for
him.”
Defending Women’s champion Laura Massaro also secured her place in the
quarter-finals as she continued to impress, this time evilly
dispatching Indian number one Joshna Chinappa 3-0.
The 32-year-old Englishwoman dictated the play from the off to assert
her dominance on Chinappa and secure a straight-games win that takes
her through to face Frenchwoman Camille Serme in the last eight - a
player she has lost her last three encounters with.
“Joshna is a very dangerous players and if you let her play her shots she can be trouble,” said Massaro.
“So I’m really happy to come through 3-0. I felt like I found my length
a lot better today than I did in my first round. I was hitting the
corners and was really happy about that and felt like it paid off.
“A quarter-final match these days is always huge and it’s anyones game.
Last time we played in the British Open I wasn't at my best and she
played really well. So in a way the pressure is off, so I’m just really
looking forward to it.”
American No.1 and World No.6 Amanda Sobhy, the Harvard graduate, also
stormed into the quarter-finals courtesy of a comfortable win over
Australian Donna.
Sobhy, the 23-year-old Harvard graduate, came through 3-1 to down
Urquhart and set up a last eight encounter with 19-year-old Egyptian
Nouran Gohar, the World Junior champion who beat Sobhy in the final of
August’s Hong Kong Open.
“It feels amazing to be in the quarters,” said Sobhy.
“To be last eight at US Open is huge but I hope to keep going further.
I love playing on home turf so I’m hoping to do the best I can for the
fans coming out to support me.
“Nouran has been on the rise and has been playing amazingly this past
year. She’s the player in form and we had a big match in the final in
Hong Kong. There’s maybe bit of redemption on offer for me but my
focus is on just trying to play well.”
2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open quarter-final action gets underway
from 5:30pm local time at Drexel University’s Daskalakis Athletic
Centre on Wednesday October 12 - with Sobhy in action on Thursday
October 13 - with tickets for the PSA World Series tournament
available to purchase by visiting www.usopensquash.com
Results - Men’s 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open: Second Round - Bottom Half
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Simon Rösner (GER) 3-2: 11-4, 6-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8 (77m)
Ali Farag (EGY) bt Fares Dessouky (EGY) 11-7, 13-11, 8-3 retired (36m)
[5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Max Lee (HKG) 3-2: 4-11, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 11-6 (74m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Paul Coll (NZL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (53m)
Draw – Men’s 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open: Quarter-finals
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v James Willstrop (ENG)
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Ali Farag (EGY)
[5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
