British Open champion Nick Matthew issued a warning that he won’t relinquish his title without a fight and followed it by answering those who criticise the tournament for its on-off problems.
Rain forced the famous event from its first-ever outdoor venue back to conventional indoor courts, where Matthew produced his best form for weeks during a high-speed, straight games victory over Karim Darwish, the former world number one from Egypt.
Although Matthew is seeded second behind another Egyptian, Ramy Ashour, he only needed 40 minutes to complete an impressive 11-6, 11-2, 12-10 success.
The Yorkshireman was then dismissive of those who slate the outdoor initiative. “The test match, the golf, and the Giro d’Italia are all off today, but the British Open squash is on – so what’s the problem?” Matthew said.
“I don’t appreciate those who knock people who try something different. We have these different facilities, and it’s great to be able to use them like this.”
Matthew was as sharp with his deeds as his words. A lengthy training break before the British Open seems to have paid dividends, for he played a high pace and only in the third game did Darwish seem likely to answer it.
The Egyptian then led 7-6 and recovered from 7-9 down to 9-9 with some fine front court play. However, Matthew maintained the pressure admirably, taking the ball early, volleying smartly and focusing intently – all redolent of the high quality which has made him the only Englishman ever to have won the British Open three times.
Earlier Greg Gaultier, the only Frenchman to have won the British Open, seemed less enamoured of the venue change, although he had moments of brilliance while overcoming Tarek Momen, the talented Egyptian, 11-8, 11-7, 15-13.
However, the match was marred by 22 of its 83 minutes being taken up by falls and repeated delays for cleaning a slippery surface.
“I’m sorry to interrupt the game but I’ve been injured this way before,” Gaultier said. “I was scared to move fast – I don’t want to play ice hockey.”
Earlier an explanation of the pioneering decision to stage the British Open out of doors was made by Alex Gough, the chief executive of the Professional Squash Association, the men’s tour’s governing body.
“Some people don’t realise how squash has been evolving,” Gough said. “We have had tournaments out of doors for quite a long time in different parts of the world. They are staged very successfully and it is quite reasonable to try the same thing in Britain.”
Matthew now has a semi-final with Gaultier on Saturday, while Ashour, the world champion was due for a quarter-final later on Friday with Cameron Pilley, the surprise survivor from Australia.
Earlier the other defending champion, Nicol David, survived a difficult beginning and a dangerously hard-hitting opponent before reaching the semi-finals.
David had to save a game ball in the first game of a 13-11, 11-8, 11-1 win over Joelle King, the tall sixth-seeded New Zealander, who created 15 minutes when it seemed she might bully the champion into difficulties.
The change of conditions from the cold outdoors to the warmer bouncier ball indoors disrupted both players’ rhythm, but for a while appeared to place more pressure on David.
“The difference was like day and night,” said David. “But we have to deal with what we are given. It’s difficult but at the same time everyone is on the same boat. It’s a matter of whoever handles it better.”
The record-breaking seven-year world number one from Malaysia now has a semi-final with Alison Waters, the fourth-seeded English woman who beat her in New York in September.
Squash star Matthew offers a message with a warning
