April 2015

Gaultier takes Grasshopper title in style!

April 19, 2015 • Tags: GC-Cup, Greg Gaultier, PSA, Simon Rosner, Switzerland, Zurich • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

French World No.3 Greg Gaultier (front) showed impressively why he was the No.1 seed at the 2015 Grasshopper Cup, taking home the title in a commanding 11-8, 11-3, 11-9 victory over German Simon Rösner (back) in the final at Zurich’s Puls5.

Gaultier dominated from start to finish against the World No.10 who looked visibly fatigued from spending over 200-minutes on court going into the finale, including a brutal 95-minute semi-final encounter against Omar Mosaad (EGY).

The Frenchman known as the “General’ was in charge throughout the competition as he claimed the 29th PSA World Tour title of his career without the loss of a single game during the whole event to send a strong message out to his main title-rivals ahead of the Allam British Open, which gets underway on May 11, where he’ll be hoping to retain the title he won in 2014.

“Winning this title means a lot because I haven’t won a tournament for around six months. It gives me a lot of confidence going forward to have a good week like this so I’m very happy,” said Gaultier.

Final:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [5] Simon Rösner (GER) 11-8, 11-3, 11-9 (45m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [3] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (51m)
[5] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [6] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-8, 13-11, 11-13, 11-6 (95m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 (45m)
[3] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-2 (69m)
[5] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND) 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 (71m)
[6] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) 11-3, 11-8, 7-11, 9-4 ret. (61m)

1st round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 (52m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [7] Borja Golan (ESP) 13-11, 11-9, 11-5 (78m)
[8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 4-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (90m)
[3] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 5-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 (76m)
[Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [4] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-9, 4-11, 11-4, 11-6 (66m)
[5] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [WC] Reiko Peter (SUI) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (42m)
[6] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (38m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-11, 6-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8 (69m)

Gaultier and Rösner fighting for Zurich title!

April 19, 2015 • Tags: GC-Cup, Greg Gaultier, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, Omar Mosaad, PSA, Simon Rosner, Switzerland, Zurich • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Number 1 seed Gregory Gaultier, the French World No.3, will take on German World No.10 Simon Rösner in the final of the 2015 Grasshopper Cup, in Zurich’s Puls 5 venue.

The Frenchman will be gunning to collect the 29th PSA World Tour title of his career against the German powerhouse, who’ll be competing in his 15th final. Gaultier is the favourite after reaching the final without dropping and leading the head-to-head 19-1 over Rösner.

Gaultier secured his place in the final with an error-free display against World No.5 Miguel Angel Rodriguez, preventing the dynamic Colombian from using his pace as he dictated proceedings from the very first point to the 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 victory. “I’m really excited to be into another final and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead,” said Gaultier. “All credit to Miguel as he’s done really well this year but I guess it was my day today and I’ll go now prepare myself as best I can and hopefully I’ll be able to do my best to win another trophy tomorrow”, he added.

Rösner came through a 95-minute battle with World No.9 Ashour conquer Omar Mosaad in a battle of hard-hitting giants. After a 2:0 lead in games Mosaad was able to parry 3 match balls from the German to shorten the games deficit, but Rösner came back strong in the 4th to take the 11-8, 13-11, 11-13, 11-6 victory and his place in the final. “It’s quite hard to get your head around leading 2-0 and being so close to winning and then not finishing it off,” said Rösner.

Final:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [5] Simon Rösner (GER)

Semi-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [3] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (51m)
[5] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [6] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-8, 13-11, 11-13, 11-6 (95m)

Mosaad downs Ashour in Zurich!

April 18, 2015 • Tags: GC-Cup, Greg Gaultier, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, Omar Mosaad, PSA, Simon Rosner, Switzerland, Zurich • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

World Champion Ramy Ashour’s (le) hopes of winning back-to-back PSA World Tour titles came crashing down as he limped off court against fellow Egyptian Omar Mosaad (ri) during the quarter-finals of the 2015 Grasshopper Cup, in Zurich.

Just 24 hours earlier, Ashour came back from 2 games down to beat home favourite Nicolas Mueller in 5 games in 1st round action. But World No.9 Mosaad showed his intent from the opening point, taking the ball short to test Ashour’s movement – a tactic that paid off to a victory after Ashour conceded the match conceded the match with Mosaad leading 11-3, 11-8, 7-11, 9-4. “Of course I am happy to reach the semi-finals but that is not the way I want to win and it is hard for me,” said Mosaad.

Mosaad’s semis opponent will be Germany’s Simon Rösner, who came through a tough match with Indian qualifier Saurav Ghosal. The World No.10 Rösner came back from 1 game down to win 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 in 71 minutes.

Earlier, top seed Greg Gaultier was in commanding form to overrun England’s Daryl Selby 11-6, 11-4, 11-5. Gaultier will take on World No.5 Miguel Angel Rodriguez of Colombia who beat Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet 8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-2.

Semi-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [3] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
[6] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v [5] Simon Rösner (GER)

Quarter-finals complete in Zurich!

April 16, 2015 • Tags: GC-Cup, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, PSA, Switzerland, Zurich • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Most spectacular action in the 1st round action of the Grasshopper Cup in Zurich was produced by Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez who beat Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 5-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10.

Further 1st round results:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 (52m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [7] Borja Golan (ESP) 13-11, 11-9, 11-5 (78m)
[8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 4-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (90m)
[Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [4] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-9, 4-11, 11-4, 11-6 (66m)
[5] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [WC] Reiko Peter (SUI) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (42m)
[6] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (38m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-11, 6-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8 (69m)

GC-Cup in Zurich on the way!

April 14, 2015 • Tags: GC-Cup, PSA, Switzerland, Zurich • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

With a start-studded field, leading by World No3 Greg Gaultier and World No6 and El Gouna winner Ramy Ashour, the 70.000 USD event has started with the 1st qualifying round.

4of the 8 players who survived the 1st round will fight for a space in the main draw action. Who is gonna make it?

Qualifying finals:
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Olli Tuominen (FIN)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY)
Alan Clyne (SCO) v Tom Richards (ENG)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Shaun le Roux (RSA)

1st qualifying round:
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Tom Ford (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4 (43m)
Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 11-2
Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Patrick Miescher (SUI) 11-5, 11-3, 11-8 (18m)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Eddie Charlton (ENG) 11-4, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7 (52m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt Steven Finitsis (AUS) 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Jonas Daehler (SUI) 11-4, 11-8, 11-8 (35m)
Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt Manuel Wanner (SUI) 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (35m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt Benjamin Fischer (SUI) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (37m)

Ramy Ashour to take El Gouna victory!

April 10, 2015 • Tags: El Gouna, El Gouna International Open, Mohamed Elshorbagy, PSA, Ramy Ashour, World Series • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

In an all-Egyptian epic battle, defending champion Ramy Ashour beat compatriot Mohamed Elshorbagy 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 10-12, 12-10 to take the El Gouna title again – now for the 3rd time.

The World No6 Ashour having taken a 2:0-lead, had 2 match balls in the 4th game as World No.1 Elshorbagy saved them to set up a deciding 5th game. Elshorbagy took a 10-6 lead missing 4 chances taking title as Ashour made 6 points in a row to become the 2015 El Gouna Champion!

Final:
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 10-12, 12-10 (94m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [3] Nick Matthew (ENG) 6-11, 6-3 ret.
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (64m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [8] Peter Barker (ENG) 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 (54m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 8-11, 11-4, 11-9, 12-10 (82m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt James Willstrop (ENG) 11-7, 14-12, 9-11, 11-4 (56m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-4, 11-3, 11-1 (25m)

2nd round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 8-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (45m)
[8] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Max Lee (HKG) 11-2, 15-13, 11-5 (46m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-4, 11-3, 9-11, 11-8 (64m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (62m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Fares Dessouki (EGY) 6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (59m)
James Willstrop (ENG) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6 (61m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-8, 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-4 (105m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 (44m)

1st round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Ali Farag (EGY) 11-9, 13-11, 11-5 (44m)
[Q] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Simon Rösner (GER) 12-10, 11-7, 11-13, 11-7 (56m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt [Q] Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 7-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 (75m)
[8] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-3 (47m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [7] Tarek Momen (EGY) 12-10, 11-1, 7-11, 12-14, 11-9 (85m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-5, 11-8, 13-11 (42m)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 7-11, 6-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-9 (88m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [WC] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (47m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (50m)
Fares Dessouki (EGY) bt [Q] Leo Au (HKG) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (34m)
James Willstrop (ENG) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 4-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-8 (58m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [5] Amr Shabana (EGY) 5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (57m)
[6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 11-5, 11-2, 13-11 (48m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 12-14, 11-8 (84m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 13-11, 8-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7 (67m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (56m)

English quartet in El Gouna quarters!

April 8, 2015 • Tags: Daryl Selby, El Gouna, El Gouna International Open, Greg Gaultier, James Willstrop, Mohamed Elshorbagy, Nick Matthew, Omar Mosaad, Peter Barker, PSA, Ramy Ashour, World Series • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Daryl Selby (le) was the star of an English quartet which marched into the quarter-finals of the 2015 El Gouna International. Selby, ranked 15 in the World, showed incredible fighting spirit and desire to get the better of World No.5 Miguel Angel Rodriguez (ri) in 5 thrilling games (11-8, 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-4).

“I’ve been playing better and better recently and I’m proving to myself that I still have what it takes and that I can still play at the very top level so today was very pleasing and I’m looking forward to coming back tomorrow,” said Selby, who joins Peter Barker, Nick Matthew and James Willstrop to cap a successful day for English hopes.

Second seed Gaultier eased past Egypt’s Karim Abdel Gawad to book his place in the quarters while the Egyptian trio of defending champion Ramy Ashour, World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy and World No.9 Omar Mosaad ensured that the home fans will have plenty to cheer in the quarter-finals.

Ashour, who has missed the last four months through injury, was forced to come from a game down against talented compatriot Fares Dessouki in order to keep his hopes of retaining the title alive.

“I was expecting him to come out fighting and I knew it would be tough,” said world champion Ashour.

Simpson made 2nd round as Shabana got injured!

April 7, 2015 • Tags: Amr Shabana, Chris Simpson, El Gouna, El Gouna International Open, James Willstrop, PSA, Ramy Ashour, World Series • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments

Egypt’s 4-time World Champion Amr Shabana suffered a shock 1st round exit during the 2nd day of action at the 2015 El Gouna International, falling to England’s unseeded Chris Simpson. The former World No.1 had cruised to an early 2-game lead against Simpson, ranked 22 in the World, and looked all was prepared for a straightforward victory. But the 34-year-old from Cairo got problems with his back and Simpson levelled the match to finally take the surprising 5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 triumph.

“Amr has been my idol since I first started playing and it’s very hard to get over the respect you have for someone like that and be competitive but I managed to do that and it’s a strange feeling for me to get a win over him,” said Simpson after his first win over the illustrious left-hander in 6 Tour meetings.

Simpson will now face compatriot James Willstrop, another former world No.1, in his second round encounter after the man from Pontefract came from one game down to see off South African Stephen Coppinger 4-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-8.

Elsewhere, defending El Gouna champion Ramy Ashour, the 2014 World Champion, survived a double scare against Marwan Elshorbagy, losing the opening game and suffering an initially potentially troublesome knee injury before surging through to a 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 win.

“It’s great to be here and playing in Egypt again,” said Ashour. “It’s a big deal for us and we’re proud to have such a world class event taking place here and it’s a just a privilege to be competing. “I was a little off at the start of the match. I’m coming back from a brutal period in my life with injuries and I’m fighting every day with myself and the injuries but I have been doing this all of my life and I will keep on pushing.”

[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (50m)
Fares Dessouki (EGY) bt [Q] Leo Au (HKG) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (34m)
James Willstrop (ENG) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 4-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-8 (58m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [5] Amr Shabana (EGY) 5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (57m)
[6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 11-5, 11-2, 13-11 (48m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 12-14, 11-8 (84m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 13-11, 8-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7 (67m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (56m)