Defending Champion Gaultier Completes Winning Return To Action In Zurich by Nathan Clarke
photos PSA
March 14, 2018
- Following a two-month injury enforced absence, 2017 tournament winner
Gregory Gaultier marked his return to competitive action on the PSA
World Tour with a straight-games defeat of local hero Nicolas Müller in
the first round of the 2018 Grasshopper Cup in Zurich.
The 35-year-old former World No.1 was halted by an adductor injury
suffered during January's Tournament of Champions but put those
troubles behind him as he out-classed Müller, the World No.18, to
prevail 11-7, 12-10, 11-8 in the PSA M100 tournament and set up a
quarter-final clash with Egyptian Mohamed Abouleghar,
"Everybody knows I've been injured and had a tough year," said Gaultier.
"I missed the game so much but luckily the doctor gave me the green
light a few weeks ago but to come back at my age takes longer and a lot
of work.
"So I was trying to be smart on the court today. There's a balance
between wanting to play but also on the other hand trying to make sure
you don't aggravate any injuries, but I'm just very happy to be back on
court and back here in Zurich.
'I've had great memories here over the past few years and hope that can continue this week."
Gaultier is joined in the last eight by long-term rival Ramy Ashour,
the maverick three-time World Champion who has also been plagued by
injury throughout the past three years.
The Egyptian looked to have resurrected elements of his former self as
he moved effortlessly around the court against German Raphael Kandra,
striking winners with ease to triumph 11-6, 14-12, 11-5 and set up a
meeting with Simon Rösner - the hard-hitting German number one who
earned his quarter-final berth with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Daryl
Selby in his fourth straight win over the Englishman in 2018.
"I gave away too many points early on with errors and that allowed him to get off to a good start," said Rösner.
"But I felt like I got into my rhythm in the second game and I'm happy
with how I managed to change my approach and turn the game around. To
come through with the win against a player of Daryl's quality is very
encouraging."
