‘Relaxed’ Gaultier Looking to Overcome World Championship Heartbreak by Nathan Clarke
photo PSA
November 10, 2015
- Four-time runner-up Gregory Gaultier says that the pressure is off
his shoulders ahead of the 2015 Squash World Championship which is set
to take place in the United States for the first time ever when
Bellevue, Washington plays host to the prestigious tournament from
November 15 - 22.
The ‘French General’ has come excruciatingly close to breaking his
World Championship title duck on a number of occasions, none more so
than the 2006 final against David Palmer where, despite going 2-0 up
and amassing five match balls, he contrived to lose the match.
But after admitting that he has placed too much pressure on himself to
perform and succeed in the past the Frenchman insists that things are
different this time around and that the pressure is off heading into
the sport’s biggest event.
“I don’t feel any pressure on me, I feel less and less pressure,” said
Gaultier, who has already claimed two PSA World Tour titles during the
2015/16 season.
“Over the years I have accumulated too much pressure so my focus is
just on playing well and feeling free and fluid when I’m on court
because the more relaxed I am, then the better I perform and I do my
routines every day to make me as relaxed as possible.
“I train very hard and I’m very disciplined and that’s all designed to
help me win titles and major titles like the World Championship so I’m
looking forward to it - especially as it’s in a new city which
will be amazing for the tournament.
“I can’t wait to be there to be honest.”
The 32-year-old has had a stunning start to the 2015./16 PSA World Tour
season, winning the Stars on the Bund China Open in September before
lifting the first PSA World Series title of the campaign, the Delaware
Investments U.S. Open, last month.
Buoyed by his triumph in Philadelphia, Gaultier is hoping to take that confidence into his next appearance stateside.
“The World Championship is the most important tournament in the world,” he said.
“It’s the highest target in the sport and the tournament that you
really focus on and spend your summer training for. Everyone wants to
peak for this tournament so it’s a huge event. You work hard to lift
trophies and enjoy those kind of moments and the adrenaline and
everything that goes with it.
“Winning the U.S. Open was a massive boost for me and I’ve felt really
good since then and that confidence helps you be more positive when you
are correcting things in training as well.”
Gaultier begins his tournament against compatriot Lucas Serme in round
one and is seeded to meet last year’s runner-up Mohamed Elshorbagy in a
mouthwatering semi-final fixture.
The 2015 PSA Men’s World Championship takes place between Sunday
November 15 - Sunday November 22 in Bellevue, Washington at the
Meydenbauer Center and tickets can be purchased here:
http://www.worldsquashchamps2015.com
