Gaultier And Elshorbagy Set Up US Open Semi Showdown by Nathan Clarke October 15, 2014
- World No.1 Gregory Gaultier and World No.2 Mohamed Elshorbagy will go
head-to-head in the semi-finals of the 2014 Delaware Investments US
Open in a mouthwatering encounter that could have significant
ramifications at the top of the PSA World Rankings.
The duo last met in
the final of the Hong Kong Squash Open, the first PSA World Series
event of the season, when Elshorbagy won 3-2 to claim just his second
ever World Series title and victory in Friday's encounter at
Philadelphia's Drexel University could see him topple the Frenchman at
the top of the rankings to become World No.1 for the first time in his
career.
The pair are in the
midst of a three-way battle with current World Champion Nick Matthew,
who takes on Egyptian Fares Dessouki in his quarter-final encounter on
Thursday, to occupy the No.1 ranking slot in November but after beating
German Simon Rösner 3-1 to move into the semis, Gaultier says his focus
is not on the rankings.
"That was a very tough
four games agains Simon," said Gaultier after his win. "He was playing
very well, being very aggressive and playing some lovely winners which
made it tough.
"He played with no
pressure and he was very fluid but I'm happy with my performance to get
the win in four and I'm delighted now to be in the semi-finals and I'm
looking forward to playing against Elshorbagy.
"Lat time we played he
won 3-2 and I'm ready to play him again. I've had a good three weeks of
training and he's confident so I'm looking forward to a good battle.
"I've been number one
this year and I'm not looking at the rankings. I'm not here with my
calculator and checking every day to see if I'm going to be number one
or number two, I'm here to play and my focus is on playing well and
trying to win the tournament."
Elshorbagy booked his
place in the semi-finals following a well earned 3-0 victory over
England's Adrian Waller in his quarter-final encounter, meaning he's
made it to the last four without dropping a single game in the
competition so far.
"When the top four
players get to the semi-finals we all raise our game and I think that's
what's going to happen against Greg," said the 23-year-old from
Alexandria.
"I know I've beaten
him the last two times, but he's beaten me nine times before that. He's
the World No.1 and such a strong player and if I play my best there's
still a chance I can loose so I have to hope I get it right on the day.
"Every player wants to
be No.1 and I think the pressure is on Greg to defend his ranking.
Players say they just come to play and enjoy themselves but I'm sure
they'd enjoy it a lot more if they are the No.1 at the end of the
tournament.
"I'm No.2 now and
people say that's great but No.2 has always been my worst enemy. You
feel you are so close I think you'd rather be 100 than number two so
I'm going to do everything I can this week to get that top ranking."
2014 Delaware Investments US Open: Quarter-final Results, Top Half: [1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [6] Simon Rösner (GER) 3-1: 11-8, 13-11, 11-13, 11-3 [82m] [3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 3-0: 18-16, 11-8, 11-9
2014 Delaware Investments US Open: Quarter-finals, Bottom Half Draw [Thursday October 16]: [4] Amr Shabana (EGY) v [7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) Fares Dessouki (EGY) v [2] Nick Matthew (ENG)
2014 Delaware Investments US Open: Semi-final Draw [Friday October 17]: [1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) ([4] Amr Shabana (EGY) / [7] Omar Mosaad (EGY)) v (Fares Dessouki (EGY) / [2] Nick Matthew (ENG))
