Gaultier Crushes Matthew, David Beats Massaro in Five to Take US Open Titles
Steve Cubbins reports









October 18, 2013 - Finals Day in Philadelphia, and it was the top seeds in the PSA and WSA World Series events - offering equal prize money for the first time ever - who were crowned 2013 U.S. Open Champions tonight in Drexel University's John A. Daskalakis Athletic Center.

Nicol still the Champion

What a final to mark the first ever World series event to offer equal prize money for the women and the men!

It was a meeting of the world #1 and world #2 and Nicol David retained her U.S. Open title with a thrilling five-game victory over Laura Massaro, 84 minutes of captivating play that could have been choreographed to say to to the men's finalists "follow that if you can!"

For five games they traded blows, testing each other out with long, patient, well-crafted rallies, then one or the other would prize open an opportunity and pounce on it. Unforced errors were few and far between, the quality was unfailingly high and the tension palpable throughout.

Hardly a point between them in the first two games -Massaro gets first chance at game ball 10-9, David seizes her first chance to take it 13-11. At 9-all in the second David gets first shot, but Massaro takes the game 13-11 on her second game ball. (on her first at 11-10 to Massaro David gets a let as she runs into her opponent's knees, Massaro appeals hoping for a no let, video ref says 'stroke to Nicol!).

Massaro holds on to a slender lead through the third to take the lead 11-7, but can't capitalise on a 7-4 lead in the fourth as Nicol takes five points in a row, forcing the decider at 11-8.

Nicol leads early in the fifth, Massaro levels at 2-all but Nicol has the momentum now, and two rare errors from Laura's racket take it to 7-3. The end comes quickly, a winning boast for 10-5 then a ball driven into the deep that Laura can't retrieve and Nicol, still the champion, leaps in delight.

"It feels fantastic, it means a lot to win that match and to win another U.S. Open title," said David.

"It's been such a journey this year, I knew Laura was playing well and I would have to dig deep. When I was down in the fourth, she maybe stepped off it a little, I just knew I had to keep going and going to the last point.

"Liz [Irving] helped me such a lot, she gave me the confidence to go in there, to know I could do it, and she and the team in Amsterdam have been doing that for the last ten and a half years.

"This is such a fantastic event, all credit to U.S. Squash, the sponsors and the venue, making the prize money equal is putting the women's game where it deserves to be and we all look forward to coming back for the next ten years!"

Masterclass from Greg

What followed was a masterful performance from Gregory Gaultier as the French top seed added to his U.S. Open title of 2006 with a straight games win over Nick Matthew, the third seed and 2007 champion.

In yesterday's semifinal with compatriot James Willstrop, Matthew was the one in charge, but tonight the boot was firmly on the other foot as Gaultier assumed early control and only on sporadic occasions could Matthew break free. Gaultier took early leads in all three games - 6-1, 4-1, 5-2 - and only in the second did Matthew threaten to close the gap, but Gaultier always found a way to open it up again.

It was never as easy as that makes it sound of course - that second game took over 20 minutes to complete, and there were plenty of fiercely competitive rallies - but it truly was a masterclass from Gaultier.

"It's amazing," said a delighted Gaultier. "The last time I won this was 2006 so to win it again here in this great venue is like a dream.

"I gave 500% today, I tried to play fast and use a lot of variation as he's so strong in the middle of the court.

"For me it's my fifth tournament in a row, Nick has only just started after five months off, so I have the matches in my legs, maybe that was the difference tonight. I'm sure he'll come back strong, maybe we can have another match in the World Open final next week!

"The sponsors, the organisation and the venue here are all fantastic, and they're doing great things in helping to raise the women's game too."

FINALS:

[1] Nicol David (Mas) bt [2] Laura Massaro (Eng) 13-11, 11-13, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5 (84m)

[1] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt [3] Nick Matthew (Eng) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (51m)