Gaultier and Massaro Lift NetSuite Open Titles by Sean Reuthe
photo squashpics.com
October 2, 2016
- Men’s World Champion Gregory Gaultier and Women’s World No.2 Laura
Massaro claimed the 2016 NetSuite Open titles after they defeated
former World No.1 James Willstrop and United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy,
respectively, in San Francisco.
Gaultier, a winner here in 2012 and 2014, had been in sublime form
throughout the week and reached the final without dropping a game,
before exhibiting some of his best squash against Willstrop to go two
games ahead on the spectacular glass showcourt on Justin Herman Plaza.
World No.19 Willstrop battled back and held three separate game balls
throughout a tightly-contested third game, but the Englishman
ultimately lost out on the tie-break, with Gaultier wrapping up an
11-9, 11-2, 14-12 victory to lift his first PSA World Tour title of the
season.
"I’m really happy with the way I’ve been playing this week, I’ve been playing better day after day," said Gaultier.
"It’s really nice to see James back playing and being well after the
2/3 years he had struggling with hip surgery. I saw him play against
[Simon] Rösner [in the quarter-final] and it was fantastic to see him
back playing.
"The first time we played each other we were playing in the British
Junior Open when we were about 15 or 16 years old. I remember we had
this brutal match in the final so it’s been a long time, but it’s good
to see our generation reaching the top after so many years."
The Women’s final saw Massaro come up against defending champion Sobhy,
who triumphed over Massaro’s compatriot, Sarah-Jane Perry, to take the
honours at the inaugural Women’s event last year.
It was the Englishwoman who found her length the fastest, taking the
ball early to build up a strong rhythm of hitting and she triumphed in
a comfortable opening game for the loss of four points, before a strong
reaction from World No.6 Sobhy saw the Harvard graduate level the
scores in game two.
Massaro got her herself back in front in the third though and moved her
opponent around the court well to restore her one-game cushion. Sobhy
put up a real fight in the early stages of the fourth game, but an
indomitable Massaro was just too strong and feathered in a forehand
volley drop on her first match ball to triumph 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7
and earn a share of the $50,000 prize purse, which is double the amount
that was on offer last year.
"I’m really happy to get my hands on the title," said Massaro.
"I don’t know how many more years I’ll be playing for it and Amanda is
such a good talent coming up, so I’m glad that I managed to get one
more win.
"The Tour on the women’s side is perhaps the strongest it’s ever been
and it’s a great time to be part of women’s squash because of the
parity that’s going on with the men. We all work really hard and I
absolutely love playing in front of the crowd in iconic settings just
like this. It’s an absolute privilege to play on this court and to get
my hands on another title."
2016 NetSuite Open - Men’s Final Result
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [WC] James Willstrop (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-2, 14-12 (46m)
2016 NetSuite Open - Women’s Final Result
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [3] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 3-1: 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 (47m)
