Defending US Open Champions Massaro And Gaultier Off To Winning Starts by Nathan Clarke
photos squashpics.com
October 9, 2016
- Defending Delaware Investments U.S. Open champions Laura Massaro and
Gregory Gaultier got their 2016 tournament campaigns off to winning
starts courtesy of dominant victories over Kanzy Emad El Defrawy and
Daryl Selby during the second day of first round action at
Philadelphia's Drexel University today (October 9).
The duo both tasted success during last week’s NetSuite Open and
carried their form into the second PSA World Series tournament of the
season, commanding the court to breeze into the second round.
“I played well last week in San Francisco and I got some good training
in before coming here for this event,” said Massaro after her
straight-games win over Egyptian qualifier El Defrawy.
“I’m feeling good and I’m happy to get off to a winning start. Kanzy is
great fun to watch but horrible to play - the ball always comes back
and that can make you edgy, so I’m happy with how I came through.”
Massaro cut a polished figure as she outclassed El Defrawy in all areas
of the court to extend her current winning streak to nine consecutive
matches and set up a second round encounter with India’s Joshna
Chinappa, who beat Egypt’s Heba El Torky in five games, while Indian
number two Dipika Palikal Karthik lost out to home favourite Amanda
Sobhy in a topsy-turvy encounter.
Pallikal Karthik stormed into a one game lead, out gunning and out
muscling the traditionally relentless attacker that is World No.6
Sobhy, but the match was flipped upside down after that as the Hong
Kong Open runner-up from Boston moved through the gears to put the
Indian to the sword in a ruthless display of attacking intent.
“Dipika came out firing - she’s a strong attacking player and I was
scrambling and defending the whole time in that first game,” said
Sobhy.
“I knew at some point she'd start making mistakes so I just relaxed and
found my shots and was happy to come out with a 3-1 win.
“There’s definitely a bit of pressure on me coming here having reached
the final in Hong Kong, but this is like a home tournament for me. It’s
the US Open, its one of the best tournaments in the world and it’s
exciting to play in front of a home crowd, so hopefully I can do well
here this week.”
Gaultier meanwhile was equally as ruthless and impressive as both
Massaro and Sobhy as he dismissed seasoned English campaigner Selby in
straight games in the Men’s draw, remaining calm during a lengthy
injury enforced break in the first game to assert himself on
proceedings and get his defence off to the perfect start.
“Daryl is one of the toughest first round matches you can get but
sometimes a tough first round match is good because it can activate you
and get you in a good dynamic from the start,” said Gaultier.
“The interruption at the start with the injury break made it a little
more difficult because it can mess with the rhythm but thankfully we
were able to play the match and I’m pleased to get off to a winning
start.”
The Frenchman will now face qualifier Paul Coll in the second round
after the World No.34 from New Zealand upset Australia’s World No.15
Ryan Cuskelly in their first round encounter. Gaultier’s compatriot
Mathieu Castagnet was the only seed to fail to make it into the second
round in the bottom half of the draw after he lost out 3-0 to an
in-form Ali Farag - the Al Ahram Open runner-up - who produced a
masterclass performance to reach the second round of the US Open for
the first time in his career.
Last time the pair met came during the Windy City Open in March and it
was Castagnet who triumphed on that occasion, coming from 2-0 down to
save match ball and come through a five game thriller, but with that
result fresh in his mind, and with Castagnet struggling with an
adductor injury, the Egyptian put the pressure on from the start to
secure an impressive win.
“Mathieu is such a warrior and we all know it but he’s been struggling
of late so I’m lucky to get the win in straight games,” said Farag.
“Last time we played at Windy City I was 2-0 up and he came back and
won so I was wary of that today and he didn’t make it easy at all even
until the end.
“I had match ball last time as well and I didn’t want that to happen
again so I was focused throughout and I’m very happy to be through.”
Farag will face compatriot Fares Dessouky for a place in the
quarter-finals on Tuesday while second round action from the top half
of the draw gets underway from 12 noon local time at Drexel
University’s Daskalakis Athletic Centre on Monday October 10, with
tickets for the PSA World Series tournament available to purchase by
visiting www.usopensquash.com
Results – Men’s 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open: Bottom Half
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [WC] Christopher Gordon (USA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (39m)
Simon Rösner (GER) bt [Q] Abdulla Al Tamimi (QAT) 3-1: 11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5 (51m)
Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Leo Au (HKG) 3-2: 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 5-11, 12-10 (71m)
Ali Farag (EGY) bt [8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 (40m)
[5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (36m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-1 (20m)
[Q] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 3-1: 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 (69m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-3 (61m)
Draw – Men’s 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open: Second Round
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Chris Simpson (ENG)
[Q] Diego Elias (PER) v [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
[Q] Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) v Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v James Willstrop (ENG)
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Simon Rösner (GER)
Fares Dessouky (EGY) v Ali Farag (EGY)
[5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Max Lee (HKG)
[Q] Paul Coll (NZL) v [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Draw – Women’s 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open: Second Round
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [13] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) v [8] Alison Waters (ENG)
[5] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [10] Joelle King (NZL)
[11] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v [3] Nicol David (MAS)
[4] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [14] Emily Whitlock (ENG)
Donna Urquhart (AUS) v [7] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
[6] Camille Serme (FRA) v [12] Annie Au (HKG)
[9] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v [2] Laura Massaro (ENG)
