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TODAY at the Canary Wharf Classic
... THE FINAL |
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[1] Nick Matthew (Eng)
bt [2] Gregory Gaultier (Fra)
12/10, 6/11, 13/11, 11/3 (69m)
LEGENDS: Simon Parke bt Peter Nicol 11/8, 9/11, 11/7
Parky wins Legends challenge
Peter Nicol's unbeaten record in the Legends Tour came to a halt
in the London launch as Simon Parke prevailed 2/1 in a
thoroughly entertaining encounter which served as rthe ideal
warmup for tonight's Grand Final. |
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[1] Nick Matthew (Eng)
bt [2] Gregory Gaultier (Fra)
12/10, 6/11, 13/11, 11/3 (69m)
Mighty Matthew Nicks
first Canary Wharf title
By ALAN THATCHER
 Top
seed Nick Matthew won his first ISS Canary Wharf Classic title
by overpowering Frenchman Gregory Gaultier in tonight’s final.
The 69-minute victory crowned a magnificent week for the
29-year-old world No.2 from Sheffield, who was kept on court for
more than two hours in his semi-final battle with fellow
Yorkshireman James Willstrop the previous evening.
Matthew showed few signs of fatigue following one of the most
epic battles in squash history and it was Gaultier who blamed
tiredness for letting slip a 6-2 lead in the third game.
Gaultier was still ahead at 9-6 but was unable to convert that
lead as Matthew forced the second tiebreak of the match, finally
clinching it 13-11 after Gaultier held game ball at 11-10.
 Matthew
then ran out an easy 11-3 winner in the final game as Gaultier’s
challenge wilted.
Earlier, Matthew had won the crucial opening game 12-10, despite
Gaultier holding game ball at 10-9.
The Frenchman, who topped the world rankings in November,
responded in stunning style, racing to a 5-0 lead and winning
the game comfortably by an 11-6 margin.
He continued the attack in the third game but was unable to
maintain his control as Matthew mounted a phenomenal physical
response to clinch the title and continue his quest for the
world No.1 slot. |
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Matthew answers the question
"So who's going to win" was a much-asked question before the
start of the seventh Canary Wharf Classic final. Conventional
wisdom had it that had they started on equal terms Nick Matthew
would be favourite, but how would he be physically after that
mammoth semi-final?
As for Gregory Gaultier, while he had been much-improved over
his recent form so far this week, and at his best he should
surely be too good for a less than 100% opponent, it was a
question of whether he could keep the fragility he has shown at
bay if placed under severe pressure.
 So
no definitive answers there, and no clues in the first game
either as they traded points to 7-all. Gaultier was the first to
get a 2-point lead at 9-7, but Matthew levelled to 9-all.
Gaultier was first to get game ball but then Matthew was the
first to score three points in a row, taking the game as
Gaultier tinned.
The Frenchman visibly upped the pace in the second, opened out
to 5/0, and soon enough levelled the match.
He continued in the same vein in the third, looking calm,
assured, and the likely winner as he went 4/1 then 6/3 up. But
Matthew wasn't going to let it go, as much as his body might
have been wanting his brain to. Playing with the power, accuracy
and court control we've grown accustomed to, he worked his way
back, levelling at 9-all, earned a game ball which Gaultier
saved with a sweeping crosscourt.
 The
Frenchman smashed away a winner to go 11-10 then was seriously
unhappy when his ball was called out on the next point. He was
unhappy from there to the end of the game, disputing two more
incidents then flinging his racket into the corner after tinning
to give Matthew the lead.
He was never really in the fourth, quickly going 4/0 and 7/1
down, tinning three service returns along the way. Matthew
wasn't doing anything special, he didn't need to, but he never
let up, never let his opponent get the impression he might be
able to get back into it, and soon enough was the new Canary
Wharf Classic champion.
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