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      James Willstrop bt Gregory Gaultier       
        11/6, 8/11, 11/6, 11/4 (51m)
   Ramy Ashour bt Karim Darwish
        11/4, 14/12, 7/11, 11/4 (50m)
  Amr Shabana bt  Nick Matthew
        8/11, 4/11, 11/7, 11/7, 11/6 (77m)
   David Palmer bt Thierry Lincou
        11/5, 11/9, 7/11, 11/5 (57m)

Head to Head before today's matches

British Grand Prix results & reports
 

Photo Gallery

James Willstrop bt Gregory Gaultier  (Atco)
        11/6, 8/11, 11/6, 11/4 (51m)

Another first for James

James Willstrop put one unwelcome statistic to rest when he beat Lee Beachill for the first time here at Sportcity in this year's Nationals. He didn't have to go on court for that one as Lee cricked his neck, but today he did go on court, and banished a second sorry stat in registering his first ever win over Gregory Gaultier.

True, most of their meeting were in juniors, and this was their first PSA meeting, but a 0-6 record against anyone when you're at James' level isn't good.

Gregory gave James a helping hand at the start, tinning far too many times inn the first, but he gathered himself to take he second and level, one 13-minute game each. It was an even contest now, and the third was close, 2-2, 4-4, 6-6. But a couple of tins from Gregory gave James a lead and he closed it out to retake the lead.

James made a good start in the third, turned 3-0 into 6-3 and 8-4, and Greg knew he wasn't going to pull that back.

So, James a good start for James in the ATCO group, but in this format that doesn't necessarily mean a thing …

"I really enjoy coming here, it's great to play in front of an English crowd, especially a Northern one.

"I've always been on the wrong end of things with Greg, I've had a few thoughts about it and taken a bit of stick over it, so it's good to get a win over someone you struggle with.

"I've had a good summer's training, but once you start playing tournaments again it's always a bit of an unknown.

"There were patches where we both show a bit of rustiness, but it will probably be like that for everyone over the next few days as it's the first tournament of the season.

"Overall I felt really good out there, and I love the new racket. It's a good start but I'll be taking it one game at a time …"

"James played a good match, it's my first match for a while, I've got to find my marks again, otherwise, I hope to find my own pace as the competition unfolds, and I will try and regroup to win tomorrow...."

 Ramy Ashour bt Karim Darwish    (Manchester)
        11/4, 14/12, 7/11, 11/4 (50m)

Ramy returns with a win

Ramy Ashour has come a long way since his last UK appearance when he won the British Junior Open in Sheffield last year. Tonight the world number two was up against fellow-Egyptian Karim Darwish, and although between them these two won three of the last four world junior titles, they hadn't played each other that much.

Still, Ramy led 2-1 and he started off as though he had no intention of letting Karim level the series. 5-1 up in double-quick time, with little in the way of long rallies, Ramy was soon a game to the good.

The second started more competitively, but helped by tins from Karim, Ramy raced away to lead 10-4. Then he started hitting some tins of his own, and pretty soon Karim was back at 10-all. One game ball, at 11-10, was Karim's only chance though, as Ramy got away with his lapse, taking it 14-12.

He didn't get away with the third though. He started off fine, leading 4-1, but a succession of quick tins from Ramy's racket saw Karim to 10-5, which was enough of a lead for him to take the 7-minute game.

Much more urgency was evident in Ramy's play in the fourth though, and this time a 4-1 lead wasn't allowed to get away. So, a winning start for Ramy, but he knows he'll have to be better to add this title to his ever-growing collection. But no-one doubts his ability to be better, least of all Ramy himself …

"It's been a great year for me, I never expected to do this, so to get into this tournament I've heard about for so long, the best eight players in the world. And what a big crowd, I didn't expect that either, they were great.

"I'm really excited about this tournament, I was going for winners, and as you saw too many of them were hitting the tin, so I'm really pleased to get through that."

Amr Shabana bt  Nick Matthew        (Atco)
        8/11, 4/11, 11/7, 11/7, 11/6 (77m)

Shabana comeback foils Matthew

So near. Two games up against the world number one, and 5-1 up in the third, it looked as though Nick Matthew was on his way to an opening night win. Not that the first two had been easy - the first could have gone either way at 8-all, although Shabana did look a trifle dispirited as the second slipped away.

But as double world champions do, Amr started to piece his game together, and whereas for the first two games he was the one under pressure, slowly but surely the tables started to turn.

Amr levelled the third at 5-all and after that was behind just one more, at 1-3 in the decider, but that too was pulled back and, showing some of his trademark touch and deception, he moved ahead once more, finishing the match with four delightful winners, three of which found the nick.

Tomorrow it's Shabana v Willstrop, and the winner of that will be two-thirds of the way to the final. For Matthew and Gaultier tomorrow is must-win day …

"In the first two games I couldn't do much, his movement was so good, he was covering the court really well. In the third I just tried to play it safer and grab a few points and I managed to do that and then kept it going."

"At 2-0 up I was playing really well and I could see he was getting a bit downbeat. I knew he wasn't going to just give it away, he's too good, too proud for that, but I needed to get to six or seven first in that third game, I was just a couple of points away from a win really.

"I lost my length a little in the last two games, but he takes the ball in short so well, so fast, it was leaving me with only one shot to play. But credit to him, he didn't miss a thing from the middle of the third, and I just didn't have as much time any more.

"The format this year means it's going to be hard to make the final after losing your first game, but my fitness and form feels good so I'll use the next two matches to see what I can get out of my summer training and then see what happens.

David Palmer bt Thierry Lincou  (Manchester)
        11/5, 11/9, 7/11, 11/5 (57m)

Palmer's turn

With their head to head standing at 8-all, someone had to take the lead tonight, and as it turned out it was David Palmer's turn to go ahead in their mini-series.

A good start and a good finish from David, with Thierry Lincou doing enough in the middle part of the match to suggest he could still have a big say on finals day - both of these have won this event before, so discount either at your peril.

David plays Ramy tomorrow and the winner will be favourite to make the final from this group. Thierry plays Karim, and the loser of that one knows they will be contesting the minor placings ...

"I became a father for the second time ten days ago, but I've put normal training in after the summer break, I'm in good shape but lacking matches, like a lot of us. I played in the Europeans but this is a different level.

"I felt I had a chance once I took he third, but in my head I was fighting with my concentration throughout the match, I found it hard to stay focussed all the time, but that will come with more matches.

"I have to win against Karim now to have a chance of making the final, so I'll have to play my best in that one."

"I played well in the first two, got a great start and he was a little slow out of the blocks. He picked it up towards the end of the second, but when I went 2-0 up I felt pretty comfortable.

"I always seem to have trouble finishing Thierry off though, and in the third he just started taking everything short, he changes hi game very well and I was caught a bit flat-footed.

"I picked it up again at the start of the fourth, got a good start which meant I could go for some shots.

"It's nice to get a win on day one, I usually struggle with this format and lose my opening match, so that puts me in a good position. I'm looking forward to playing Ramy again. He looks sharp but I think I learned a few things last time we played, it's always fun to play him."

   Joel Hinds bt Alan Clyne                          8/11, 11/5, 11/6, 11/9 (53m)
   Jon Harford bt Shaun Le Roux                 11/8, 8/11, 11/7, 4/11, 11/7 (62m)
   Andy Whipp bt Lewis Walters                   11/6, 11/9, 13/11 (30m)
   Alister Walker bt Nick Taylor                   11/3, 11/6, 12/10 (36m)

 Joel Hinds bt Alan Clyne   
     8/11, 11/5, 11/6, 11/9 (53m)

First blood to Joel

The first match of the event(s) saw England junior International Joel Hinds, fresh from two Harrow Challenger tournament wins as he starts his PSA career, take on Scottish number two Alan Clyne.

Both are unused to playing on the glass court, which meant that ventures to the front were fairly rare as they generally rallied it, trying out to get the feel for the conditions

It was the Scot who drew first blood, but Joel drew away from the mid-point of the second and third games to take the lead.

The fourth was point for point, with plentiful long rallies, until at 8/7 Joel scored with a mishit to create a two-point gap for the first time. He held onto that lead, finishing off with another slight mishit to take the lead in the Sportcity group.

"I don't play on a glass court, ever! It's so different, it's really hard to volley. I was adapting a little towards the end, but I definitely need a practice on there tomorrow.

"I played ok, I was but I was glad o get a couple of 'dirty' shots at the end of the last game.

"I'm pleased with my start in the PSA – played two, won two – they were only small events but still looks good!"

Jon Harford bt Shaun Le Roux
          11/8, 8/11, 11/7, 4/11, 11/7 (62m)

Jon wins the odd ones

The second match of the day was a see-saw battle between to of England's promising younger players. Once one player got ahead in each game the other was unable to close the gap, and five entertaining games were traded, with Jon Harford taking the odd numbers and claiming the win.

"I've had a hard summer's training but not played many matches, so this tournament, with three hard games guaranteed, is a great starter for the season.

"It was a tough match. I got ahead but lost it a little in the fourth so held back to make a big effort in the fifth.

"Neither of us are too used to the glass court, but it rewards a tight shot so well making it really difficult to get back, and that's probably what won it for me in the end.

"I'd really love to get the wildcard for the Birmingham event. I went to university there and the court will be in the Great Hall where I took all my exams - playing in there would be such a great feeling ..."

Andy Whipp bt Lewis Walters
            11/6, 11/9, 13/11 (30m)
Alister Walker bt Nick Taylor 
            11/3, 11/6, 12/10 (36m)

One for experience, one for youth ...

The final two matches in the British Grand Prix pitched two youngsters against tow experienced Manchester favourites.

Andy Whipp, newly-married, had too much guile for Lewis Walters, who had stepped in at the last minute after Tom Pashley pulled out with a shoulder problem.

 In the other match youth prevailed as top seed Alister Walker took the first two games against Nick Taylor fairly comfortably before seeing off a spirited fightback in the third which saw Nick get a game ball at 10/9.

"For some reason I felt really nervous before that match, worse than I've been since I started playing at ten! I'm just glad to get through really.

"I've been in a few British Open qualifyings but never in the main draw, to get through to that would be fantastic ..."

"He really pushed in the third and I came off it a bit, gave away a few cheap points. But for someone not playing full time he's playing really well, taking it in short extremely well.

"This event is good for getting some good matches on the glass court, especially for those of us who don't play on it that much. And getting one of the wildcard spots at the end of it would be great …"



"I was just a bit off the pace, half a yard too slow. But I played some good squash, which is what's important to me, especially against someone ten years younger than you."

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