'Golden oldie' Matthew stays on title defence course

Nick Matthew kept alive his chances of defending the World Open title and also of becoming the oldest man ever to win it by reaching the semi-finals on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old Englishman denied Amr Shabana, the 35-year-old Egyptian with an 11-3, 12-10, 11-7 success which will rate as one of his best performances against one of the all-time greats.
Shabana had been playing well enough to harbour hopes of winning the world title a fifth time, but his one real chance of getting back into the match slipped away when he was unable to convert his solitary game point in the second game.
That arrived at 10-9 but then Shabana’s attempt to cut off a cross court drive ended with the ball in the tin.
Thereafter Matthew’s hustling volleying, consistently solid attack, and excellent movement applied too much pressure.    
“You don’t often beat Shabana in straight games, and that’s really going to help me for the rest of the week,” said Matthew after completing his victory in only 42 minutes. “I’m really, really happy with that.
“He’s an absolute legend and I’m over the moon to get a result like that and get off fresh for tomorrow.”
Then Matthew will continue his attempt on a fourth world title at an age which is nine months older than Geoff Hunt, the Australian who has so far remained the oldest male world champion for 34 years.
But Matthew's task may be as hard as it gets. His next opponent is Mohamed El Shorbagy, the 23-year-old world number one from Egypt, whose straight hitting and tight focus prevailed 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 against Stephen Coppinger, the first South African in the World Open quarter-finals since Roland Watson 35 years ago.
The other semi-final is between Gregory Gaultier, the top-seeded Frenchman, and Ramy Ashour, the twice former world champion from Egypt.
Gaultier played with fierce efficiency to win 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 against Cameron Pilley, an unseeded Australian whose 213 minutes on court -- the most of any quarter-finalist -– appeared to be draining his energies.
By contrast the charismatic Ashour only survived after a characteristically dramatic match.
He had to recover from a two-game deficit against Borja Golan, the world number six from Spain, and then survive an agonising injury delay after his opponent cut a finger while making a spectacular dive along the floor.
During those 15 tense minutes, at 6-6 in the fourth game, Ashour had plenty of unwanted opportunity to consider his predicament –- within only five points of a surprise defeat .
Eventually he escaped, driving to an unorthodox line and length and patiently waiting for opportunities to cut the ball short during his 9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 comeback.
“My body is fine -– it’s just my head,” said Ashour rather comically, referring to the fact that this is his first tournament in six months since having plasma rich platelets inserted into his hamstrings.
“But there’s a bit of pressure on me whether something is going to happen (to the hamstrings) or not. I try to control it as much as I can –- the conflict between wanting to win so much and (playing) safety first.”
Against Gaultier, who is seeking to atone for defeats in all of his four world finals, it may well be harder still - though on the evidence so far El Shorbagy, with his heavy hitting and young legs, is probably the form favourite.
Source: AFP