WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: SSA Global Windy City Open Squash Championship, Chicago, USA

Final:
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 12-15, 15-9, 15-12, 15-4

Matthew Storms To Windy City Win

England's Nick Matthew claimed the biggest PSA Tour title of his career after dismissing second seed Gregory Gaultier in four games in the final of the SSA Global Windy City Open Squash Championship, consigning the Frenchman to the runner-up position in the $30,000 event in Chicago, USA, for the third consecutive year.

There can be few better settings for a squash match in the United States than Cathedral Hall at the University Club of Chicago.  The final was an intriguing match between a 21-year-old Frenchman, currently ranked 11 in the world, and his 18-month-older English opponent ranked one place higher.  Both players had played great squash throughout the week in Chicago and both had been pressured in early matches, having to show their resolve to recover from deficit to win five game matches.

Matthew was out of the blocks faster in the first game and took an early 4-1 lead helped by a couple of Gaultier errors.  The Frenchman soon settled down though and began to play his typical exciting brand of squash, moving Matthew effortlessly around the court.  He dominated the front court exchanges and moved quickly to a 10-6 lead.  Matthew tightened up his game and started to push Gaultier deeper in the court and got back on level terms at 12-12.  Gaultier held his resolve though and a straight backhand volley kill gave him game ball and he won the 22-minute first game when Matthew hit the ball out of court in the next rally.

Matthew started better in the second game.  He made fewer errors and his fast attacking play began to create openings for him to win points with his drop shots and kill shots at the front of the court.  He led throughout, but Gaultier kept the game close until 9-8.  A disputed stroke call in favour of Matthew seemed to take a little of the wind out of Gaultier and Matthew ended up a comfortable winner of the game in 12 minutes to draw level.

The third game was close throughout.  Neither player appeared able to seize an advantage.  The rallies were tighter and more intense.   Matthew held a 13-12 lead late in the game, but Gaultier was still right there stretching Matthew around the court.  The Frenchman worked a great opening, but inexplicably put his backhand drop in the tin with Matthew scrambling to recover.  At game ball Matthew hit a great backhand cross court to wrong-foot Gaultier and move 2/1 up.

Gaultier looked determined early in the fourth game and a couple of excellent straight drives for winners gave him a 3-1 lead.  Then followed a great rally with Gaultier unluckily hitting the ball out while making an unbelievable effort to recover a shot off the back wall.  It appeared Gaultier was hurt after that attempt and as Matthew began to run up the points it was clear the Frenchman had nothing more left to give. 

Gaultier limped to a quick defeat to hand Matthew a 12-15 15-9 15-12 15-4 victory.  It was the 23-year-old from Sheffield's biggest tour win to date - his first for almost three years and the fourth of his career.