Champion Gaultier Draws Karwalski In Toluca by Howard Harding 19 September 2013
- France's world No2 Gregory Gaultier will begin his defence of the
Abierto Mexicano de Raquetas title in Mexico against Matthew Karwalski
following the Australian's success in the qualifying finals of the PSA
World Tour International 70 squash event in Toluca.
The world No57 from
New South Wales denied Arturo Salazar the chance to line up alongside
his twin brother Cesar Salazar in the first round of the richest event
ever to be staged in Mexico.
Karwalski beat Arturo
Salazar 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6 in 38 minutes to earn his first meeting
with Gaultier, the 30-year-old from Aix-en-Provence who won the 2012
title after triumphing in the quickest final of his career.
Mexican interest in
the main draw was boosted when 22-year-old Alfredo Avila upset New
Zealand's higher-ranked Campbell Grayson (both pictured in action
below) 11-6, 15-13, 11-8 in the qualifying finals.
Avila, the world No58 and now the lowest-ranked player in the main draw, will face England's Adrian Waller, the world No34.
Henrik Mustonen and
Egyptian Karim Ali Fathi were the other two players to qualify. Finn
Mustonen beat England's Jaymie Haycocks 11-4, 11-8, 11-9, while Fathi,
the 20-year-old world No56 from Cairo who is making his maiden
appearance in Mexico, defeated experienced Australian Steven Finitsis
6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-9 in 64 minutes.
RESULTS: PSA International 70 Abierto Mexicano de Raquetas, Toluca, Mexico
Qualifying finals: Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 11-4, 11-8, 11-9 (38m) Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6 (38m) Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Steven Finitsis (AUS) 6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-9 (64m) Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11-6, 15-13, 11-8 (44m)
Updated 1st round draw: [1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS) Tom Richards (ENG) v Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) [4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Nicolas Mueller (SUI) [3] Borja Golan (ESP) v [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) Adrian Waller (ENG) v [Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) Gregoire Marche (FRA) v [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v [WC] Cesar Salazar (MEX)
