Gaultier Marks an Amazing 50 Straight PSA Quarterfinals from Tour Media February 8, 2014
- Frenchman Gregory Gaultier celebrated his 50th successive
quarter-final appearance on the PSA World Tour in perfect style in
Sweden – despatching English rival Peter Barker in just 30 minutes to
secure a semi-final slot in the Case Swedish Open, the PSA
International 70 squash event celebrating its 11th successive year at
Linköping Sporthall in Linköping. The 31-year-old
defending champion from Aix-en-Provence – who last failed to make an
event's quarter-finals when he was beaten in the first round of the PSA
Masters in India in December 2009 – was in devastating form as he
crushed Londoner Barker, the World No.7, 11-5, 11-3, 11-4. By the third game, it
was clear that fifth seed Barker – who was laid low by a calf injury
for the last two months of 2013 and was taken to five games in his
first round match - was struggling with his movement. "I am satisfied with my performance in the game," commented joint World No.1 Gaultier after the match. "I think his body was
hurting – but that's the way it goes. Perhaps it was a bit of
luck for me – but I was ready to compete. "With eight players here in the top 11, this must be the strongest Swedish Open field there has ever been."
