Commanding Displays See Gaultier And Farag Set Up San Francisco Semi Clash from PSA Media
photos PSA
September 30, 2018
- Egyptian World No.2 Ali Farag and World No.7 Gregory Gaultier of
France are set to meet in a mouth-watering semi-final encounter at the
2018 Oracle NetSuite Open, PSA World Tour Gold event taking place in
San Francisco, after the pair dominated their quarter-final encounters
against Diego Elias and Simon Rösner, respectively.
Playing with laser-like accuracy and moving with a speed and guile that
belies his 36-years, Gaultier, three-time tournament champion, was
simply rampant as he put Rösner, World No.5, to the sword 11-3, 11-5,
11-8 on the stunning all-glass court situated at the foot of the city’s
iconic Ferry Building.
From the outset the Frenchman was in complete control, denying Rösner
any opportunity to use his height and power to good use. An awkward
lunge mid-way through the second game, which looked to have jarred
Gaultier’s knee, threatened to derail the charge but Gaultier gamely
pressed on and, after taking the second, continued to go from
strength-to-strength to book his place in the semi-finals.
“I had a day off yesterday after the second round match so I took full
advantage of that to rest my body and be as sharp as possible tonight,”
said Gaultier.
“I have been training well over the summer and feel like I am on the
way back towards my peak once again. I’m doing the best I can to
compete against all the young players on Tour and show that even at my
age I can get back to my best and challenge.
“I had a great year last year, but then had a bad run of getting
injuries but fingers crossed this year I can play injury free because I
have more goals that I want to achieve.”
Gaultier’s opponent, 26-year-old Farag, was equally sublime as he made
light work of World No.11 Diego Elias, recording an emphatic 33-minute
straight game victory through which he rarely looked troubled.
“Most of our matches have gone to the wire in the past,” said Farag afterwards.
“He’s such a sound player but I did my homework this morning and knew
what I had to do. It never felt convincing on there but thankfully I
managed to do it well and play attacking squash.
“I’m very glad that I’ve put in a few good performances this week so
far. I’ve never made it past the fist round here before so I’m really
glad to be in the semis and hopefully there’s two more matches to come
for me.”
In the women’s draw World Champion and tournament top seed Raneem El
Welily dispatched England’s Laura Massaro, the World No.6 and former
World No.1, in just 28 minutes, playing with free-flowing attacking
accuracy to come through an 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 winner and book her place
in the final on her first ever appearance at the event.
“I’m really happy to be through to the final,” said El Welily.
“Playing Laura is always very tough. She’s mentally so strong.
“I’m trying to do my best every point, and in every rally and see where
that takes me. I’m playing here for the first time and it’s a beautiful
location - even more impressive in real than I thought it would be from
pictures - so I want to make the most of it.”
