Castagnet Shocks World No 1 Elshorbagy in British Grand Prix Quarters by Nathan Clarke December 6, 2014
- French World No.15 Mathieu Castagnet pulled off one of the biggest
wins of his career, and the biggest upset of recent times, to defeat
World No.1 and 2014 World Championship runner-up Mohamed Elshorbagy in
the quarter-finals of the AJ Bell British Squash Grand Prix in
Manchester earlier today.
Castagnet, the 28-year-old from Aix-en-Provence, stunned the
23-year-old Bristol-based Egyptian with a dogged performance, coming
from one game down to complete an impressive 3-1 victory which
delighted the capacity crowd at the national squash centre.
"That is the best win of my career so far without doubt," said Castagnet.
"Always during my career I have had people telling me that I'd never
make it and that I wasn't good enough and today I just beat the World
No.1 so I am really delighted with the result.
"He didn't play his best tonight but this win proves to me that I can
maybe be a top ten player and I am looking forward to playing again
tomorrow."
Castagnet will now face Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez, the highest
ranked South American player of all time, in the semi-finals where the
victor will face either England's three-time World Champion Nick
Matthew or French World No.2 Gregory Gaultier, the man Matthew beat to
glory in two of those finals.
"Against Greg it's safe to say you have to play at the very top of your games," said Matthew.
"He's number two in the world and he's hungry to end the season with a title, as am I, so I'm looking forward to the match."
Results - Quarter-finals: AJ Bell British Squash Grand Prix:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [5] Peter Barker (ENG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 [43m]
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [6] Daryl Selby (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5 [77m]
[7] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 3-1: 13-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-7 [54m]
[8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 3-1: 7-11, 11-9, 11-1, 12-10 [66m]
Semi-final Draw - To be played Sunday December 7:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [3] Nick Matthew (ENG)
[7] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v Castagnet Shocks World No 1 Elshorbagy in British Grand Prix Quarters
by Nathan Clarke
December 6, 2014 - French World No.15 Mathieu Castagnet pulled off one
of the biggest wins of his career, and the biggest upset of recent
times, to defeat World No.1 and 2014 World Championship runner-up
Mohamed Elshorbagy in the quarter-finals of the AJ Bell British Squash
Grand Prix in Manchester earlier today.
Castagnet, the 28-year-old from Aix-en-Provence, stunned the
23-year-old Bristol-based Egyptian with a dogged performance, coming
from one game down to complete an impressive 3-1 victory which
delighted the capacity crowd at the national squash centre.
"That is the best win of my career so far without doubt," said Castagnet.
"Always during my career I have had people telling me that I'd never
make it and that I wasn't good enough and today I just beat the World
No.1 so I am really delighted with the result.
"He didn't play his best tonight but this win proves to me that I can
maybe be a top ten player and I am looking forward to playing again
tomorrow."
Castagnet will now face Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez, the highest
ranked South American player of all time, in the semi-finals where the
victor will face either England's three-time World Champion Nick
Matthew or French World No.2 Gregory Gaultier, the man Matthew beat to
glory in two of those finals.
"Against Greg it's safe to say you have to play at the very top of your games," said Matthew.
"He's number two in the world and he's hungry to end the season with a title, as am I, so I'm looking forward to the match."
Results - Quarter-finals: AJ Bell British Squash Grand Prix:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [5] Peter Barker (ENG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 [43m]
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [6] Daryl Selby (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5 [77m]
[7] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 3-1: 13-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-7 [54m]
[8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 3-1: 7-11, 11-9, 11-1, 12-10 [66m]
Semi-final Draw - To be played Sunday December 7:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [3] Nick Matthew (ENG)
[7] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v [8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
