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TODAY in Delhi - Saturday
17th,
SEMI-FINALS |
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[4] Gregory Gaultier (Fra)
bt [6] Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egy)
12/10, 11/7, 11/1 (53m)
[3] James Willstrop (Eng) bt [5] Peter Barker (Eng)
11/4, 11/3, 11/4 (30m)
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Gaultier & Willstrop impress in Delhi
 Frenchman
Gregory Gaultier reached his third major final of 2011 as
he turned in a consummate performance in the first semi-final of
the Punj Lloyd PSA Masters in Delhi, ending the run of young
Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy.
Shorbagy, who reached his second successive World Series
semi-final with victory over compatriot Karim Darwish - who had
beaten him in that match in Kuwait - competed well in a first
game that went point for point, but it was Gaultier who took the
game on extra points.
The Frenchman was in control for the rest of the match, taking a
good lead before closing out the second, and going 10-0 up in
the third. Shorbagy raised his hands in relief as he took his
first point of the game, but it was to be his last as Gaultier
finished off the match in style.
 In
the final he'll meet James Willstrop, the in-form
Englishman who has won the last two World Series events, in Hong
Kong and Kuwait, and would become world number one should he
make it a hat-trick of titles here.
Willstrop faced compatriot Peter Barker for the sixth
time this year, and the tall Yorkshireman made it five wins in a
row as he took control from the outset and never let an opponent
who didn't appear to be at his best get a look in.
So in the final, Gaultier and Willstrop will meet for the sixth
time in 2011. The Frenchman won the first three, in Australia,
Qatar and Rotterdam, but Willstrop was the victor in Hong Kong
and Kuwait - there was a lot at stake in those matches of
course, but certainly from Willstrop's point of view tomorrow
could be described as 'the big one' ...
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Malcolm reports from Delhi ... |
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"Gaultier was simply
too good for me today...it was fair match...
I like him a lot as a guy, he has always been advising me when I was
just coming new into the tour... I have learnt from him a lot over
the years and I am still learning from him...
I was able to keep up the pace with him in the first game and at
10/9 up, I really needed that point so much..
After losing the first I just couldn't push anymore, I don't know
why... I wasn't tired physically but just mentally felt a little
tired may be because of the pressure he was putting on me in the
first game....
I am really happy with how the year ended: two semi finals in a row
of a super serious tournaments...
This year has been really good with me, I do think that this is my
best year I have had till now.. reaching 5 finals winning 4 out of
them...
When I lost to Nick in 5 at the worlds, I put a target for me before
this year end, which was beating one of the top players and I did
that so I am really happy...
now I am going back finally to Alexandria, I miss my home, I miss my
family, I miss my friends :) "
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[4] Gregory Gaultier (Fra)
bt [6] Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egy)
12/10, 11/7, 11/1 (53m)
Gregory Gaultier was in prime form against Laurens Anjema
and Mohammed El Shorbagy had the best win of his
burgeoning career over Karim Darwish.
To be competitive tonight, Shorbagy would have to put the
excitement of his quarter final win behind him. There was every
prospect of a high paced encounter. Gaultier hit a return of
serve dead to open the scoring, but there was a profusion of
lets early in the game.
There was never much in it, as Shorbagy held his own as the
score went from 5 all, to 8 all, 9 all and he then played a
brilliant acute backhand angle to have a game ball. Not to be,
though, and a tiebreak it was. At 10-10 there was a review by
Gaultier, which looked very harsh on Shorbagy and it was
Gaultier who won a game that certainly had a damaging effect on
Shorbagy.
The first game had not run very kindly for Shorbagy and things
didn't improve in that respect in the second. Gaultier. More
confident now, led 7-3 aided by errors from Shorbagy and winners
of his own. At 9-6 Shorbagy unsuccessfully reviewed again and
when, at 10-7 he was denied a let that he should have had it all
became too much for him. Losing his composure he addressed the
referee in such a manner that a conduct warning was issued for
dissent.
Apart from being unbecoming, even though his frustration could
be understood, it did his prospects in the third game little
good. A series of errors quickly handed a 10-0 lead to Gaultier
,before Shorbagy, after a big rally, managed his first point.
In retrospect the first game was crucial to any prospects
Shorbagy had and he was perhaps a little unlucky to lose it.
Gaultier remains in very good form, as his recent record
suggests.
It is no surprise that he and James Willstrop will
contest tomorrow's final, since the pair have been the two form
players of late.
 For a 20 year old like
Mohammed to be nearly in the top 5 is really impressive,
I was only top 10 at that age. Only him and Ramy have
done it that quickly. He played well against Darwish
last night and he's had an amazing 2011.
I've a really good year but a poor first half of the
season because of a hamstring injury. Since then I've
found my squash again and I'm happy to have had a better
second half.
I know both James and Peter really well so I won't watch
the next match, maybe just have a look on squash tv at
the hotel. I'll go back and relax and look forward to
the final.
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[3] James Willstrop (Eng) bt [5] Peter Barker (Eng)
11/4, 11/3, 11/4 (30m) |
The second semi-final, all
English, between James Willstrop and Peter Barker,
promised plenty, but things didn't quite work out, for Barker,
at least.
Willstrop, winner of the last two World series events in Hong
Kong and Kuwait, had seen off strong efforts from Nicolas
Mueller, Alister Walker and Daryl Selby, and Barker had repelled
Indian no.1 Saurav Ghosal 3-1 and Ramy Ashour 3-1, Ashour
unfortunately injuring himself again.
Quite early in the first game there were signs of Willstrop
resuming where he left off, forcing errors out of Barker to take
control of the game from 4-3 onwards. Playing with precision and
accuracy and looking at ease Willstrop soon raced away to 10-3
and finished the game off with a delicate cross court drop.
He continued to play very well, delaying and putting Barker
under all sorts of pressure and the second game was easier than
the first, Barker also looking uncomfortable in some of his
movement.
11-3 again and there was clearly no way back for Barker. Errors
from Barker and winners from Willstrop combined to give
Willstrop the third game 11-3.
It is likely that both players expected a closer match than this
turned out to be and Barker will be as disappointed as Willstrop
is pleased. He proved that after a rigorous first half of the
season he is, like Gaultier, retaining his form.
The final promises much and it is hard not to see that promise
being fulfilled. |
 People, and the media
especially love to go on about the stats between me and
Peter but I don't dwell on it, and I'm sure Peter
doesn't. It's not a fair reflection of our matches
because they're always really tough.
We're lucky in England to have such an amazing support
system in place. Myself and Nick, Peter and Daryl, and
the girls obviously get loads of help from the trainers,
coaches, physios, nutritionists etc. at home and the
success we've all had wouldn't have been possible
without them.
It's great to have Malcolm here. He thinks because I won
in Hong Kong and Kuwait without him that I don't need
him but that couldn't be farther from the truth. It's a
massive help to having him around at this tournament
alongside the other people close to me.
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