"It feels great to win this title, and I'm sure that James and I are looking forward to coming back here for the World Championships in Manchester too", Matthew explained (photo: Steve Cubbins).
In the all-English final 2-times World Champion Nick Matthew (le) beat World No1 compatriot James Willstrop (ri) 4-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 after 78 minutes of play to win the British Grand Prix 2012.
Unbeaten in his previous 14 PSA encounters with Willstrop, Matthew went into the match as favourite – particularly as Willstrop, the World No1, had come through a gruelling two-hour semi-final against third-seeded Frenchman Greg Gaultier while Matthew spent well under half the time in his win over England team-mate Peter Barker.
“Everybody talks about James’s racket skills – but he’s also the toughest and fiercest competitor I’ve ever played. It doesn’t matter what he’s done before,” said Matthew in response to MC Sue Wright’s suggestion that Willstrop’s previous match might have taken its toll.
Final:
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [1] James Willstrop (ENG) 4-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (78m)
Semi-finals:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 7-11, 11-6, 11-4, 14-16, 15-13 (118m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [4] Peter Barker (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 (48m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 8-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5 (66m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Simon Rosner (GER) 12-10, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7 (68m)
[4] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-8, 11-1, 11-3 (43m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-3 (58m)
1st round:
[1] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-8, 11-7, 11-4 (59m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Jens Schoor (GER) 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (36m)
Simon Rosner (GER) bt [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-6, 11-3, 11-5 (49m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 (36m)
[4] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 11-8, 7-11, 12-10, 11-2 (85m)
Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND) 7-11, 7-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-6 (87m)
Alister Walker (BOT) bt [Q] Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-7, 14-12, 11-3 (57m)
[2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 14-12, 12-10, 11-0 (48m)
