30-Sep, Final:

[1] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) 3-0 [2] Amr Shabana (Egy)
               11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (32m)

Gaultier dominant in SF final:

Top seed Gregory Gaultier defeated No. 2 seed Amr Shabana in a dominating 3-0, 32-minute performance  to win his second NetSuite Open title title in three years tonight on the Glass Court on San Francisco’s South Lawn at Justin Herman Plaza.

The Frenchman won the 28th title of his PSA career, while appearing in his 60th final.



The world’s No. 1 player continued his streak of perfection on the shores of San Francisco Bay in this year’s tournament, not losing a game over four matches in this tournament. The 31-year-old reclaimed the title in his third consecutive trip to the finals in San Francisco, defeating Nick Matthew in the 2012 championship before falling to Ramy Ashour in a tough five-game match last year.

“Greg was truly masterful tonight and throughout the whole tournament,” said John Nimick, a U.S. Squash Hall of Famer and President of Event Engine, Inc., the tournament producer.

“To thoroughly dominate a player of Amr’s caliber truly shows why Greg is the world’s top player. We’ll see if he can keep his form and win his third NetSuite Open title next year.”

Gaultier now owns a 15-14 advantage in PSA matchups with Shabana, with the world’s current top player claiming five of the last six meetings. As the winner of the NetSuite Open, he wins $11,300.

Shabana, a four-time world champion, has lost only two matches in his two appearances at the NetSuite Open, losing both times to Gaultier (3-0 in the 2012 semifinals). With 33 career PSA World Tour titles, he is currently third among active players in championships behind Australia’s Mike Corren (50 titles) and countryman Ramy Ashour (34).

“I didn’t know we had played that many matches on tour," said Gaultier.

"We’re both quite old now and he’s still pushing very hard to be at the top but of course I am very happy to have won.

"We need support like we have here in San Francisco to help our sport grow and it was nice to see a good crowd tonight. John (Nimick) and his team put together an amazing event here and I'll certainly be coming back next year."

“When you play the No.1 player, you know you’re going to have a big challenge," said 35-year-old Shabana.

“I would have liked to put on a better show, but sometimes you get destroyed. You’re never too old to learn.”

Photos by
Andreas Hofweber

Photo Gallery

11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (41m)

[4] Miguel Rodriguez

11-3, 11-5,
11-5 (32m)

[2] Amr Shabana

6-11, 11-8, 11-5,
11-5 (55m)

[2] Amr Shabana

25-Sep, Qualifying Finals:

Olli Tuominen (Fin) 3-1 Matthew Karwalski (Aus)     9/11, 11/9, 11/4, 11/1 (38m)
Campbell Grayson (Nzl) 3-0 Steve Finitsis (Aus)              11/9, 11/7, 11/5 (54m)
Cesar Salazar (Mex) 3-1 Henrik Mustonen (Fin)     9/11, 16/14, 11/7, 11/7 (62m)
Alan Clyne (Sco) 3-0 Chris Gordon (Usa)                       11/9, 11/7, 11/5 (39m)

24-Sep, Qualifying Round One:

Olli Tuominen (Fin) 3-0 Faisal Riaz (Pak)                         11/3, 11/1, 11/5 (16m)
Matthew Karwalski (Aus) 3-0 Gareth Webber (Wal)          11/2, 11/7, 11/6 (21m)
Steve Finitsis (Aus) 3-0 Gabriel Morgan (Usa)                  11/5, 11/5, 11/3 (26m)
Campbell Grayson (Nzl) 3-1 Shahier Razik (Can)  11/6, 11/3, 13/15, 11/8 (59m)
Henrik Mustonen (Fin) 3-1 Charlie Johnson (Eng)    9/11, 11/4, 11/7, 11/9 (53m)
Cesar Salazar (Mex) 3-1 Italo Bonatti (Gua)          12/10, 11/5, 7/11, 11/3 (42m)
Chris Gordon (Usa) 3-0 Rody Cortes (Usa)                     11/6, 11/6, 11/5 (26m)
Alan Clyne (Sco) 3-0 Muhd Asyraf Azan (Mas)                11/4,11/5, 12/10 (56m)

30-Sep, Semis:

[1] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) 3-0 [4] Miguel Rodriguez (Col)
                  11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (41m)
[2] Amr Shabana (Egy) 3-1 [3] Peter Barker
                  6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (55m)

Top seeds through to final:

Top seed Gregory Gaultier continued his streak of perfection on the shores of San Francisco Bay this year to earn his third consecutive trip to the NetSuite Open final, defeating fourth seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez in three games.

Second seed Amr Shabana ousted third seed Peter Barker to earn his first berth in the final of the PSA $70k event in San Francisco.

The world’s top player has not lost a game over three matches in this tournament and will look to reclaim the NetSuite Open title he won in 2012.

Last year Gaultier lost the crown to Ramy Ashour in a tough five-game final.

The 31-year-old will appear in his 60th PSA final tomorrow night and will attempt to win his 30th title after dispatching Rodriguez in 41 minutes. Gaultier now has a 5-0 career record against Rodriguez.

A four-time world champion, Shabana needed four games to get past Barker in 55 minutes and has now won eight consecutive matches against the Englishman.

The 35-year-old will look to avenge his lone defeat at the NetSuite Open, when he lost to Gaultier 3-0 in the 2012 semi-finals. With 33 career titles, he will be appearing in his 47th final.

A NetSuite Open victory would be his third of 2014, alongside his Tournament of Champions and Grasshopper Cup triumphs.

Shabana has a 13-11 advantage in PSA matches with Gaultier, with the world’s current top player claiming three of the last four meetings. The last time these two players competed for a title Shabana came out on top three games to nil at the Tournament of Champions this January.
 

Photos by
Andreas Hofweber

Photo Gallery

[3] Peter Barker (Eng) 3-0 Alister Walker (Bot)
             11-5, 11-5, 11-9 (46m)
[2] Amr Shabana (Egy) 3-1 [8] Adrian Grant (Eng)
             11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9 (54m)

Second and third seeds Amr Shabana and  Peter Barker were victorious tonight to ensure that the NetSuite Open Semifinals will have all of the top four seeds. Top seed Gregory Gaultier and Miguel Rodriguez earned their trips to Monday’s semis in San Francisco with quarterfinal victories on Saturday night.

Shabana, who is currently ranked 5th in the world, needed four games to dispatch the 8th seed Adrian Grant 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9 in 54 minutes. The “Maestro” will make his second appearance in the NetSuite Open Semifinals, having made it in his previous appearance in San Francisco in 2012.

Barker, the No. 8 player in the world, moved through to the semis after taking all 3 games from Alister Walker 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 in 46 minutes. The London native is returning to the semifinals at the NetSuite Open for the first time since 2012, after being knocked out in the quarterfinals last year.



The semifinal matches will be played tomorrow night at the Glass Court on the South Lawn at Justin Herman Plaza, culminating in Tuesday’s championship.

Gaultier, who is appearing in his third straight NetSuite Open Semifinals, owns a 4-0 lifetime record against Rodriguez, who is currently 13th in the world.

Shabana is 5-1 against Barker, with their last matchup coming at the 2010 Kuwait Open quarterfinal.

27-Sep:
Quarters Part One:

Top seed Gregory Gaultier and fourth seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez advanced to the semi-finals on the second day's play on  the Glass Court at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco.

Frenchman Gaultier, the world number one, pulled off a second consecutive 3-0 victory against Chris Simpson in just 31 minutes - less than a third of the time it took Simpson to reach the quarter-finals! .

Rodriguez also won in straight games for the second day in a row.

The Colombian was up 2-0 against Laurens Jan Anjema when the fifth-seeded Dutchman was forced to retire due to a chronic ankle injury.

The remaining quarter-final matches will be played on Sunday night culminating in Tuesday’s championship.

Photos by
Andreas Hofweber

Photo Gallery

Photos by Ma Patapoff

26-Sep, Round One:
Walker and Simpson in SF upsets

The top quartet each needed only three games to power through their opponents, but the remaining four matches all required five games to decide a winner.

The 8th seed Adrian Grant faced match point in the second game before coming all the way back to defeat Campbell Grayson in 72 minutes on the Glass Court at Justin Herman Plaza.



Both Alister Walker and Chris Simpson  pulled off upsets in the first round. Walker outlasted 6th seed Mathieu Castagnet for a 3-2 victory in 98 minutes at the Bay Club San Francisco. At Stanford University, Walker battled Mathieu Castagnet for his 3-2 win in 98 minutes.

The Netherlands’ Laurens Jan Anjema outlasted Mexico's Cesar Salazar with a 3-2 victory over 61 minutes to punch his ticket to the quarterfinals.

The remainder of the tournament, starting with Saturday's quarterfinals, will be played at the Glass Court on the South Lawn at Justin Herman Plaza, culminating in Tuesday’s final.
 

Photos by Ma Patapoff

25-Sep, Qualifying Finals:
Salazar Upsets Mustonen
Tuominen, Clyne and Grayson Also Move Through the Qualifying Round; First Round Matchups Set

Cesar Salazar (Mexico), the fifth seed in the qualifying round for the NetSuite Open, needed four games to upset third seed Henrik Mustonen (Finland) to advance to the first round of the San Francisco stop on the PSA World Tour.

After dropping the first game in a match played at the Bay Club San Francisco, he needed 62 minutes to post a 9-11, 16-14, 11-7, 11-7 victory. Olli Tuominen (Finland), Alan Clyne (Scotland) and Campbell Grayson (New Zealand) also made it through the qualifying rounds tonight to punch their tickets to the main draw.

Tuominen needed four game to distinguish Matthew Karwalski (Australia), coming back after losing the first by a 11-9 score. The Fin needed 38 minutes to post the 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-1 decision at the Bay Club San Francisco.

Clyne made quick work of Chris Gordon (U.S.A.) in a 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 triumph that lasted 39 minutes at the University Club.

In the other match played at the University Club, Grayson got by Steven Finitsis (Australia) in three games (11-9, 11-7, 11-5) that took 54 minutes to earn his spot in the main draw.

24-Sep, Qualifying Round One:
Favourites advance in qualifying openers

Each of the seeded players in the NetSuite Open’s qualifying field advanced tonight as they play for four spots in the first round on Friday.

No. 1 Olli Tuominen (Finland), No.2 Alan Clyne (Scotland), No. 3 Henrik Mustonen (Finland), No. 4 Campbell Grayson (New Zealand), No. 5 Cesar Salazar (Mexico), No. 6. Steven Finitsis (Australia), No. 7 Chris Gordon (U.S.A.) and No. 8 Matthew Karwalski (Australia) will play tomorrow at The Bay Club San Francisco and University Club.

Tuominen made quick work of Faisal Riaz (Pakistan), needing only 16 minutes to post a 11-3, 11-1, 11-5 victory at the Bay Club San Francisco.

Karwalksi (Australia) earned a matchup with Tuominen with his 11-2, 11-7, 11-6 triumph over Gareth Webber (Wales) that took 21 minutes.

Clyne rattled off a three-game victory over Muhd Asyraf Azan (Malaysia) by a 11-4, 11-5, 12-10 score in 56 minutes at the University Club.

He’ll be faced by New York’s Gordon, who dispatched of fellow American Cody Cortes in 26 minutes with a 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 performance.

Mustonen needed four games (9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-9) to get past Bay Club San Francisco pro Charlie Johnson (England) on his home court in a 53-minute match.

Salazar gets an opportunity to face Mustonen tomorrow after posting a 3-1 decision over Italo Bonatti (Guatemala) 12-10, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3 in 42 minutes at the Bay Club.

16-year-old Menlo Park native Gabriel Morgan (U.S.A.) couldn’t get past Finitsis, who delivered a 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 performance that required 26 minutes on the Olympic Club court.

The Australian will face No. 4 Grayson, who required four games to punch his ticket to the next round, getting by Shahier Razik (Canada) 11-6, 11-3, 13-15, 11-8 in 59 minutes at the University Club.

Preview:
Gaultier and Ashour head 2014 field

Two of the world’s top four ranked squash players – current U.S. Open champion and No. 1 Gregory Gaultier and No. 4 Ramy Ashour – headline the field for the 2014 NetSuite Open.

** 06-Sep, Ashour withdraws injured

One of only four elite squash championships in the U.S., the NetSuite Open returns for its third year to San Francisco’s South Lawn of Justin Herman Plaza September 24-30.

“Squash fans remember the great five-game NetSuite Open championship match between Gregory and Ramy last year, so I’m thrilled that they’re coming back to compete for the NetSuite Open title once again in San Francisco this season,” said John Nimick, a U.S. Squash Hall of Famer and President of Event Engine, Inc., the tournament producer. “A world class city is worthy of world class field, and this year’s Open certainly has that.”

In addition to Gaultier and Ashour, two other top 10 ranked players will participate in this year’s NSO. Egypt’s Amr Shabana, ranked No. 5, and England’s Peter Barker, ranked No. 8, are seeds three and four, respectively, in the field for the PSA International 70 tournament that boasts 11 of the top 25 players on the current Dunlop PSA World Rankings. The tournament’s 28-player field represents nine countries and contains a collective six world championships (Ashour – two and Shabana – four).

Two-time World Champion Ashour looks to defend his 2013 NSO title, when he defeated France’s Gaultier 11-4, 7-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-2 to register his ninth straight tournament victory of that season and extended his unbeaten tour run to 45 matches. The 5-11, 176-pound Egyptian owns a 282-52 PSA tour mark (.844) and is a 32-time PSA tournament champion.

France’s Gaultier, the world’s top ranked player and 2012 NSO champion, is coming off winning his second Allam British Open – squash’s most historic tournament – in May. The seven-time French National Title winner owns a 379-117 lifetime record (.764) on the PSA Tour during his distinguished 15-year career.

Julian Illingworth, seven-time USA national Champion and the highest ranked American player in the world for the past eight years, receives the main draw Wild Card spot.

The early rounds, comprising two rounds of Qualifying and six matches in the First Round (final 16) of the Main Draw will be played at Stanford University, the Bay Club San Francisco, Olympic Club and University Club. Two first round matches, the Quarterfinals, Semi-Finals and Championship will be played at Justin Herman Plaza.

2013 Event | 2012 Event