World Champion Gaultier Comes Through Stern Test To Reach Hong Kong Quarters, Sobhy to Face El Welily by Nathan Clarke December 3, 2015
- Just one week after defeating a resurgent James Willstrop in the
semi-finals of the 2015 World Championship en route to the title
Gregory Gaultier was once again forced to produce some of his best
squash to defeat the towering Englishman in the second round of the
Men’s Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open today (Dec
3).
It took the Frenchman over 60 minutes to secure his place in the
quarter-finals of the PSA World Series tournament, one of few titles to
have eluded him during a glittering career, at the expense of
Willstrop, who’s shock victory over Mohamed Elshorbagy during the World
Championship helped Gaultier to top the World Rankings this month.
The 32-year-old from Aix-en-Provence began impressively, utilising his
pace and power to take advantage of a misfiring Willstrop. ‘The
Marksman’ upped his game in the third as he began to find his range,
firing in pinpoint shots from all areas of the court to reduce the
deficit but Gaultier dug into his reserves to mount a huge challenge in
the fourth game and his doggedness was rewarded when he sealed the
match 11-7, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6.
“That was one of the toughest matches I could have had at this stage in
a tournament and I really had to give my all,” said Gaultier.
“He proved last week at the worlds that he can beat anyone so I knew I
had to be sharp. I had to push myself mentally and physically
especially in the fourth game when I gave everything in the tank to try
and take control of the match away from him.
“I feel a little bit physically drained after winning the World
Championship but mentally I’m still there. I struggled yesterday in the
first round and today was a tough match as well but these kind of
matches can help keep you sharp.
“Even if my body isn’t 100 per cent, mentally I want to finish the year
on a positive note. You can’t be 100 per cent all year round but you
can give your best on court each day and there are always solutions to
problems so I’m going t be giving it my all this week.”
Gaultier will line up against Australian Cameron Pilley, after he got
the better of German Simon Rösner, for a place in the semi-finals while
the man Gaultier lost to in the final of the 2014 edition of the Hong
Kong Open, Elshorbagy, progressed to the last eight without breaking
sweat after Indian Saurav Ghosal conceded their match due to injury.
In the women’s draw English World No.2 Laura Massaro extended her
current unbeaten streak on the PSA World Tour to 12 matches as she
dispatched Egyptian challenger Heba El Torky 3-0.
Massaro has so far claimed back-to-back PSA World Series titles during
the 2015/16 season, winning at the U.S. Open and Qatar Classic, and
will be hoping to complete an impressive hat trick this week during the
30th staging of the Hong Kong Open but will face a stern challenge from
her main title rivals Raneem El Welily, the World No.1, and Nicol
David, the World No.3.
“I felt like the match was a bit scrappy at times today,” said Massaro,
who took 34 minutes to complete the 11-9, 11-5, 14-12 win.
“The rallies were short and there was not much rhythm. It was tough to
get through it but I’m really happy to have got a 3-0 win in the end.
“Coming home after winning in Qatar I had a few days off but then my
mind was back on training and it wasn’t difficult to refocus on coming
here to Hong Kong. I had a good two weeks at home which gave me plenty
of time to get some good training in and I’m feeling good.
“This is a World Series event and as such carries a lot of emphasis -
it’s very important and I’m fully focused on doing as well here as I
can and performing to my best. It’s great to be in the quarters of
another World Series tournament so hopefully I can perform an well
again tomorrow.”
Massaro will face Nouran Gohar in the last eight while El Welily made
her way into the quarter-finals after commanding against Low Wee Wern,
with the Malaysian conceding the match at the end of the second game.
El Welily will now face sharp shooting American Amanda Sobhy for a
place in the semi-finals, where she could line up against Massaro in
what could be a crucial match in the context of the world rankings with
the victor of that potential bout almost guaranteed to hold the No.1
status come January 1st.
Draw - Quarter-finals
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [8] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
[6] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [3] Laura Massaro (ENG)
[4] Camille Serme (FRA) v [5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
Joelle King (NZL) v [2] Nicol David (MAS)
