Defending Champions Out As Matthew Delivers US Open Masterclass, Sobhy into Semis by Nathan Clarke
photo usopensquash.com
October 13, 2016
- 2015 Delaware Investments U.S. Open champions Laura Massaro and
Gregory Gaultier saw the defence of their titles come to a premature
end as they both bowed out of the 2016 iteration of the PSA World
Series tournament taking place in Philadelphia during a dramatic day of
quarter-final action that also saw home favourite and US number one
Amanda Sobhy storm into the last four.
Gaultier, who also lifted the trophy in 2013 and 2006, came into the
tournament in red hot form having won the NetSuite Open last week but
he fell to a 3-1 defeat to Hong Kong Open runner-up Karim Abdel Gawad
in a match that saw the Frenchman implode from a commanding lead.
The 33-year-old was in total control as he took the opening game for
the loss of just three points before opening up a 6-1 lead in the
second. But, after becoming irritated with a series of calls by the
referees, his game began to break down as he lost concentration and
Gawad made him pay, storming through to seal the match 3-11, 11-9,
11-7, 11-5.
“I think that’s my best win ever in my career so far,” said Gawad.
“Greg is the No.2 in the World - it says it all - and one of the most
experienced players on Tour. Before today he’d beaten me 8-0 on head to
head record so it’s my first win against him and that means a lot.
“At 11-3 and 6-1 down I knew I had to change something and really just
try and get some points. I pushed and pushed to get as many points as
possible and I’m really happy to get the win.”
Gawad will now face England’s Nick Matthew for a place in the final
after the 36-year-old three-time World Champion produced a masterclass
performance to defeat Egyptian World No.6 Ali Farag.
Matthew had lost out in his only two previous meetings with the
talented 24-year-old but, after struggling against Simon Rösner in the
second round, cut a completely different animal on court as he played
with great variation in height and pace to deliver a stand out
performance and come through 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 to prove there is still
life in the old ‘wolf’.
“I had to pull that out of the pandora’s box of experience,” said Matthew.
“I had to keep reminding myself just to dig in because I played him
twice and lost twice - so I was determined to prove a point and show
that there’s life in the old dog yet.
“He has that ability to make you feel a bit like Bambi on ice at times
but I dug in. It was 3-0, but mentally it felt much, much tougher than
that.”
Matthew’s compatriot and 2015 Women’s champion Massaro meanwhile was on
the receiving end of a sublime performance from Frenchwoman Camille
Serme that saw her emerge victorious 11-8, 8-11, 11-2, 6-11, 11-6 after
a topsy turvy five-game encounter.
Serme beat Massaro to win the 2015 British Open, the biggest win of her
career, and she played with unwavering confidence to seal a win that
sees her overturn a period of poor form during the past few months.
“To beat Laura, the defending champion, is a great win for me right now and it feels amazing,” said Serme.
“It was a very tactical battle today. She’s such a fighter, it doesn't
matter if she’s down, she never gives up, so I’m so happy to win that
battle.
“I’ve worked hard lately at trying to change my mindset in all areas -
in the gym, in practice - not just in matches, to try and push me even
harder. I’ve got things to focus on mentally every day and little notes
and reminders to help me.
“Today I was trying to keep that positivity throughout the match. I
knew what the tactic was and that I had to be in front and make her
work, and I think in the fifth the mental element was the key.”
Serme will take on home favourite Amanda Sobhy after the Boston-based
US number one downed 19-year-old Egyptian Nouran Gohar to gain revenge
for her defeat to the World No.4 in the final of August’s Hong Kong
Open.
It was the hard-hitting World Junior Champion who came through in Hong
Kong - the first PSA World Series tournament of the season - to claim
the honours and inflict a second major tournament final defeat on
Sobhy, but the 23-year-old ensured that result wouldn’t be repeated as
she produced a performance of high quality attacking abandon to outgun
Gohar at her own game.
“I was very determined to overturn that result from Hong Kong - there’s
nothing like getting a of redemption so I was focused on making sure
she didn’t beat me twice, especially not on home soil,” said Sobhy.
‘I’m feeling great right now - it was such a tough match so to come out
and get the win and reach the semi-finals of the US Open is amazing and
I owe the crowd so much thanks.
“This is such a prestigious and great tournament and it’s fantastic to
play here. The support of the fans gives you that extra push and they
really picked me up and I hope they can continue and make it even
louder for tomorrow’s semi-finals. Hopefully I can do my best to try
and keep the trophy on home soil.”
2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open semi-final action continues from
5:00pm local time at Drexel University’s Daskalakis Athletic Centre on
Friday October 14 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: Quarter-finals
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Ali Farag (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (57m)
[5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 3-1: 3-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (67m)
Draw – Men’s 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open: Semi-finals
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v James Willstrop (ENG)
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
