Matthew Wins Hong Kong Open, Regains World No 1 Ranking
by Howard Harding


8 December 2013 - England's Nick Matthew finished the year on the best of highs in Hong Kong today when his maiden title triumph in the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open - the eighth and final PSA World Series squash event of the year - will see him return to number one in the world rankings next month after a 22-month gap.

The 2013 Hong Kong Open - one of the international circuit's longest-standing events, which was launched in 1985 - came to a glorious climax today on an all-glass showcourt at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on the spectacular Tsim Sha Tsui harbourfront.

Three-time World Champion Matthew, 33, from Sheffield, went into the event as the No.4 seed - but made his breakthrough in the semi-finals where he ousted France's World No.2 Gregory Gaultier in a repeat of last month's PSA World Championship final in Manchester.

But his opponent was also a surprise finalist - and the first Spaniard ever to teach the event's climax. Seventh seed Borja Golan, the World No.7 from Santiago de Compostela, had brushed aside third seed James Willstrop, the 2011 champion from England, in the other semi to celebrate his first appearance in a World Series final.

Matthew (pictured above, right, in action with Golan) raced to a two-game lead in the final - but Golan asserted his authority in the third to reduce the deficit.

But the Englishman, unbeaten by Golan in two previous Tour encounters, raised his game in the fourth to close out the match 11-1, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5 in 65 minutes.

"It feels amazing," said jubilant champion Matthew (pictured above with women's champion Nicol David), who now boasts 28 PSA World Tour titles. "I've been coming here since 2001 and I've struggled to get out of the squash centre before now so to end the year on a high, with this title and going back to No.1 is an amazing feeling.

"It's been a great year for me: I got married this year as well so it's been really special for me. I think Ramy (Ashour) has shown that he is the best player so I'll take the ranking with a pinch of salt. I have to beat him on a regular basis and that's the next goal but I have had my share of injuries and know what it's like for him.

"I think Borja deserves a lot of credit for how he played in his first final," continued Matthew. "I think there was a lot of nerves in the first game and maybe handling the lights going out as well was maybe easier with my experience. I had a great start in that first game so credit to him that he came back in the third.

"He could have thrown in the towel but he came back and showed that he's got a lot of big matches in him and he's on an upward curve in his career for sure."
 
RESULTS: PSA World Series Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open, Hong Kong

Final:
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [7] Borja Golan (ESP) 11-1, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5 (65m)