2008

ISS Canary Wharf Classic 2008

05-Feb-07:
FRENCH STAR GAULTIER SETS SIGHTS ON ISS CANARY WHARF SQUASH CLASSIC

French squash star Gregory Gaultier is aiming to add the ISS Canary Wharf Squash Classic title to his rapidly expanding collection of trophies.

The tournament takes place at Canary Wharf’s spectacular East Wintergarden venue from March 10-14 and Gaultier is sure to entertain the crowds.

The stylish 25-year-old from Aix-en-Provence is currently ranked No.3 in the world. He is the leading European player attempting to dislodge the two mercurial Egyptians, Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour, from the top of the rankings.

Gaultier is the current British Open champion and has reached the last two finals of the World Open, losing in Egypt to Australia’s David Palmer and to Shabana in Bermuda.

Gaultier beat fellow Frenchman Thierry Lincou to win his first British Open title last year and aims to follow Lincou’s lead by lifting the ISS Canary Wharf title in March.

Lincou won the Canary Wharf tournament in 2006, beating the recently-retired Australian Anthony Ricketts in a magnificent 88-minute final. It was a year when Lincou enjoyed enormous success on British soil, also winning the Liverpool Open and Mamut English Open.

Gaultier has taken over the mantle as French No.1, and is now aiming for the world top spot. He is highly rated by his rivals and the formidable Shabana admitted: “Greg is a magnificent player and is sure to be world champion one day.”

Although he is missing this weekend's French National Championships with a troublesome wrist injury, Gaultier is close to resuming competitive action and confident of being fully fit come March.

Peter Nicol, the former world No.1 (who is co-promoter of the ISS Canary Wharf Classic), said: “We are delighted that Greg has confirmed his entry. He is one of the most stylish players in the game and is gradually becoming one of the most complete players on the tour.

“He has fantastic speed around the court, great awareness and superb racket skills. He and Thierry have made France one of the most successful nations in squash and it’s wonderful to see how their efforts have had such an impact on the development of the sport in their country.”

Last year’s World Open was closely followed by the World Team Championships in India, where England were relieved to beat France in the semi-finals before overcoming Australia in the final.

England’s title-winning squad of James Willstrop, Nick Matthew, Peter Barker and Lee Beachill will all be aiming for more success when the world’s leading players return to Canary Wharf for this PSA World Tour Five Star event, now firmly established as London’s premier squash tournament.

Matthew will be hoping to recover from a shoulder injury that has kept him off court since December.

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