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Marche Praises “Unbelievable” Elias after Egyptian Open Masterclass
“I’ve rarely had matches like this where you feel there’s absolutely zero solution, zero opening. He does everything right.”
That was the reaction of France’s Gregoire Marche after a chastening 30-minute defeat to reigning world champion Diego Elias in the third round of the CIB Egyptian Open last night, a mismatch made all the more stark by Marche’s reflection that his own performance was largely a good one.
Such is the current form of Elias, Marche explains, that it feels like he is playing perfect squash.
The World No.27, winner of nine PSA titles, revealed: “Honestly, I can’t find anything to fault him on. Sometimes it’s early, sometimes it’s late, even when he’s late, his wrist adjusts, and when you think you’ve dominated the rally, that you’re in front of him he has all the answers, today at least!
“I didn’t play that badly, except for the third game. Especially in the second, I felt like I could compete at times. But it’s unbelievable, honestly. I told him at the end that it was just too strong.”
The former World No.11 added that playing Elias reminded him of some of the greatest of the game: “I’ve rarely felt like this after 15 years on the Tour. There were matches against Greg [Gaultier, French former World No.1 and world champion] back in the day, or Amr Shabana [Egyptian former World No.1 and four-time world champion], where you feel there’s another level, but this, in terms of squash quality, length, he has it all.”
“He’s not a world champion for nothing.”
The 2024 CIB Egyptian Open is taking place from 30 August – 6 September at Club O West, Cairo. Watch all the action live on SQUASHTV. For more information on the CIB Egyptian Open 2024, follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
