RESULTS: Saudi Squash International, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
2nd round (top half of draw):
[15] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [Q] Joey Barrington (ENG) 11-2, 11-4, 11-8 (30m)
[8] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [14] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (71m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [9] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9 (70m)
[7] Wael El Hindi (EGY) bt [Q] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 11-7, 11-9, 11-2 (36m)
England's Nick Matthew extended his unbeaten Tour run against James Willstrop to four wins over two years when he beat his national rival in the second round of the Saudi International to reach the quarter-finals of the $250,000 PSA World Tour Super Series squash championship in Saudi Arabia - the final major event of the year at Sunset Beach in Al-Khobar.
It was a tense and tough encounter - the pair's first meeting since world number four Matthew prevailed in a 122-minute marathon final of the British Open on home soil in September after Willstrop failed to convert match balls to give him the title for the first time.
Third seed Matthew took the first two games at Sunset Beach for eight points each - but fellow Yorkshireman Willstrop, the No9 seed who is only two places lower in the world rankings, fought back to take the third for only four points.
But Matthew regrouped in the fourth - raising his arms in delight after 70 minutes to celebrate his 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9 victory.
The 29-year-old from Sheffield is on course to become world number one for the first time in the January rankings - but must reach the semi-finals and stay ahead of his only rival Ramy Ashour, the 22-year-old Egyptian who beat him in last week's PSA Masters final in India, and who plays his second round Saudi International match today.
"I’m so happy I’ve got a day of rest tomorrow, it’s not physically, more mentally," Matthew told the official website www.atcosquash.com afterwards. "The standard of squash was so high, that a little drop in concentration - like in the third - and James was all over me like a rash.
"And in the fourth, I was determined not to have a fifth, because then you might as well toss a coin!
"It was the worst draw for both of us, and you knew by the number of players that were sitting watching the match that it was going to be fireworks, and a great match.
"This was the first time James and I played after our match in the British Open. A lot of things were written and said, and I’m glad that we had none of that rubbish today. It was a clean and good match - now we can all move on with our lives and look to the future," concluded Matthew.
Willstrop conceded that the outcome was just: "Nick played better today, he deserved to win. Today he was stronger than me, his body held it better. Everybody knows how great a professional Nick is.
"It was a dog of a draw, especially after all the top players have gone out of the tournament. I’m disappointed with the standard I play at the moment - to be out in the second round. I don’t think I deserve that! I think I need a bit of luck, things to go my way a bit - although in no way shape or form am I saying that luck made Nick win the game!"
Matthew will now face seventh seed Wael El Hindi on Wednesday for a place in the semi-finals after the Egyptian beat English qualifier Jonathan Kemp 11-7, 11-9, 11-2.
There were mixed fortunes for Englishmen in the earlier second round matches: Eighth seed Adrian Grant was extended for 71 minutes by Pakistan's 14th seed Farhan Mehboob before beating his fellow left-hander 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7.
Meanwhile qualifier Joey Barrington was unable to take advantage of his surprise place in the last sixteen after the mid-match retirement of second seed Amr Shabana in the their first round clash. Aamir Atlas Khan, the 15th seed from Pakistan was too strong for the 29-year-old from Somerset, winning 11-2, 11-4, 11-8 in just 30 minutes.
Tuesday's outstanding 2nd round line-up:
[6] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v [10] Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
[4] David Palmer (AUS) v [16] Stewart Boswell (AUS)
[5] Peter Barker (ENG) v [13] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [12] Alister Walker (ENG)
For up-to-the-minute information, visit the official website www.atcosquash.com