NetSuite Open Day Two – As It Happens

Follow us here for reports and reaction from the second day of the NetSuite Open, where World Champion Gregory Gaultier will take on Australian No.1 Ryan Cuskelly for a place in the semi-final

Malaysia’s eight-time World Champion Nicol David and World No.12 Nour El Tayeb also face off in a mouthwatering fixture, while the likes of Laura Massaro, Amanda Sobhy, Cameron Pilley and Marwan ElShorbagy are all in action on day two.

You can watch the action LIVE on SQUASHTV and Eurosport Player.

Not able to watch? Check out our live scoring page

Here’s Today’s Order of Play
(All times are local PDT)
15:00 [1] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [5] Victoria Lust (ENG)
15:45 [8] Heba El Torky (EGY) v [4] Joelle King (NZL)
16:30 [3] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [7] Joey Chan (HKG)
19:00 [7] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [4] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) – LIVE on SQUASHTV and Eurosport Player
19:45 [6] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v [2] Nicol David (MAS) – LIVE on SQUASHTV and Eurosport Player
20:45 [1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [8] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) – LIVE on SQUASHTV and Eurosport Player

Massaro Storms Past Lust to Reach Last Four

World No.2 Laura Massaro produced a dominant display to overcome fellow Englishwoman Victoria Lust in the quarter-final stage of the NetSuite Open, PSA W50 tournament taking place in San Francisco.

Massaro, who beat United States No.2 Olivia Blatchford in the previous round, was on the front foot from the outset, wasting no time in establishing a rhythm as she stormed to a one-game lead for the loss of just three points.

Lust felt her way into the match in the second and, despite seeing a 4-1 lead eradicated by Massaro, held her own until an unforced error at 7-6 down saw her hand the initiative back to Massaro, with the Lancastrian taking full advantage to double her lead.

It was neck and neck for much of the third game, but Massaro’s consistent hitting and indomitable accuracy eventually enabled her to wrap up the victory by an 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 margin – ensuring she will take on either World No.11 Joelle King or World No.22 Heba El Torky for a place in the final.

“I’m pretty happy with that, as I said yesterday the court conditions are tough being on the back court because the rallies are a little bit longer,” said Massaro.

“But I’m happy to be off in three and I’m looking forward to getting on the glass court tomorrow.”

Massaro has had a mixed start to the season after losing out in the quarter-final stage of the Hong Kong Open last month before bouncing back to take the plaudits at the China Open a week later.

The 32-year-old now feels that she has some match fitness under her belt and she is looking forward to appearing in her maiden NetSuite Open semi-final.

“I wasn’t massively happy with the quarters in Hong Kong. But I lost to the winner and had a couple of match balls, so I felt it was a good match. I was really happy with the way I came back in China and how I played there.

“It’s just about getting some match play in and getting into the season. Hong Kong is tough because it’s the first tournament of the season, but I feel like I’m playing quite well and I’m match sharp now. Playing the semis tomorrow is exciting.”

Result – Quarter-Final: Women’s NetSuite Open 2016
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [5] Victoria Lust (ENG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 (32m)

Kiwi King Downs El Torky to Set Up Massaro Clash

New Zealander Joelle King came up with a superb performance to dispatch Egyptian World No.22 Heba El Torky and set up a semi-final meeting with World No.2 Laura Massaro.

King, the World No.11, came into the encounter in the midst of a five-match unbeaten run having triumphed at the Macau Open earlier this month and took the opener after some delicate touches at the front of the court nullified El Torky’s attacking threat.

The second game was one way traffic, with only a broken racket for El Torky towards the end of the game stemming the flow of winners coming from King as the former World No.4 built up a 2-0 advantage.

A series of lengthy rallies then played out in the third game as both players tried to open up the court. King had the superior length and width of shots, and she succeeded in pushing El Torky to the back to close out the win in straight games and set up a semi-final clash with Massaro – against whom she lost to in the China Open semi-final earlier this month.

“I had to develop my game a lot more when I was injured and because I’m a bit older,” said King, who spent a year on the sidelines between May 2014 – May 2015 due to a ruptured achilles tendon.

“Sometimes they say ‘what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger’, and I think the injury has helped me broaden my horizons and bring new things into my game. I think I’m starting to play some of the best squash of my life, I’m loving it out there.

“The last time we played, she [El Torky] beat me. She tore me apart that day and got in front of me. Today, I didn’t want that to happen, I felt I hit my lines with a good width and she couldn’t get in front of me today.”

Result – Quarter-Final: Women’s NetSuite Open 2016
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bt [8] Heba El Torky (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (31m)

Defending Champ Sobhy Moves Into Semis

Title holder Amanda Sobhy moved to within one win of a second successive NetSuite Open final after defeating Hong Kong’s Joey Chan in straight games.

The United States No.1, who overcame England’s Sarah-Jane Perry in last year’s final, was in fine fettle at the beginning of the encounter, forcing Chan short before rattling off a series of devastating drives to the back to open up a one-game lead.

Chan got to the ‘T’ in front of Sobhy and forced the charismatic American all the way to a tie-break in the second game after some clever changes of direction and soft hands at the front left of the court.

But Harvard-graduate Sobhy ground it out to win it 12-10, before rediscovering her length in a one-sided third game to secure safe passage through to the next round.

“I’m happy to get off in three today, I can conserve some energy for the semi-finals on Friday,” said Sobhy.

“I think my length dropped off in the second game and she was able to dominate the middle and she was pretty deadly from there. I just told myself to put her behind me and I was glad that it worked and I got off to a good lead in the third.

“I didn’t really want it to go to an extra game, so I’m just happy that regrouped well after the second and played well in the third.

“It’s nice to be back here playing and I hope to defend my title and keep it on home soil. [Playing in front of a home crowd] helps tremendously, I love playing at home and having all the supporters around the country rooting for me.

“It’s amazing and being in San Francisco is great, the crowd is spectacular. There are so many people that I don’t know, but who are here supporting me, the support has been amazing.”

Sobhy will go head-to-head with either eight-time World Champion Nicol David or World No.12 Nour El Tayeb in her semi-final fixture.

Result – Quarter-Final: Women’s NetSuite Open 2016
[3] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [7] Joey Chan (HKG) 3-0: 11-3, 12-10, 11-2 (24m)

ElShorbagy Sees Off Pilley to Reach Semis

Egyptian World No.7 Marwan ElShorbagy claimed a third successive victory over Australian No.2 Cameron Pilley to become the first semi-finalist in the Men’s tournament.

The match, held at the glass show court on Justin Herman Plaza, started in an inauspicious manner, with the slippery court conditions caused by the cold temperature meaning that neither player could move freely, with Pilley in particular struggling as a five-minute opening game went in ElShorbagy’s favour.

After a short break in which heating lamps were used to heat the court, the quality of the match picked up dramatically, with Pilley finally establishing himself on the fixture to restore parity and win his first ever game against ElShorbagy at the third attempt.

A good start from ElShorbagy at the beginning of the third saw the Bristol-based 23-year-old wrestle back momentum of the match and he ramped up the pressure and pace of his shots to restore his lead, before keeping Pilley at arm’s length in the fourth to close out the victory and set up a semi-final meeting with either World Champion Gregory Gaultier or Pilley’s compatriot, Ryan Cuskelly.

“It was tough in the first game, of course, with the floor, and after we got it sorted, it was tricky to come back,” said ElShorbagy.

“We both lost our concentration, but he played better in the second game and I felt that I had no game plan, then I started getting back into it.

“I’m very happy with how I played today and a venue like this just makes you want to keep playing. I’m looking forward to the next match.”

Result – Quarter-Final: Men’s NetSuite Open 2016
[4] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [7] Cameron Pilley (AUS) 3-1: 11-2, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5 (66m)

David Through to Semis After El Tayeb Retires

Malaysia’s eight-time World Champion Nicol David is through to the semi-final stage after her quarter-final opponent, World No.12 Nour El Tayeb, retired mid-way through the third game.

RIDICULOUS reactions from @NourElTayeb!!! pic.twitter.com/Nlx0M3Qxh2

— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) September 29, 2016

David, the World No.3 from Penang, adopted a high ‘T’ position from the outset to cut off El Tayeb’s threat at the front of the court, and went two games up after coming out on top of a series of entertaining rallies.

This is just superb #squash from @NicolDavid and @NourElTayeb at the @NetSuiteSquash Open!!! pic.twitter.com/k9k9PCLUhz

— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) September 29, 2016

The glass show court, situated on San Francisco’s Justin Herman Plaza, had become slippery throughout the night due to adverse weather conditions though and El Tayeb, who had suffered falls on more than one occasion, felt that she couldn’t carry on, bringing a premature end to the fixture.

“There are some patches that may feel a bit funny, but I felt alright on the court,” said David.

“It’s just a matter of how comfortable you are after falling, you don’t want to stretch yourself, so it’s not the nicest way to win it. I hope she’s okay and didn’t hurt herself along the way.

“It’s tough, after slipping two or three times, you don’t feel as comfortable. When you fall, it’s difficult for your mind to settle, particularly if you’ve had an injury not that long ago.

“You try your best to do what you can under the circumstances. We’re both going through the same situation, but you just have to see what works for you and make the most of it as much as you can. It’s great to be here in San Francisco, I’m playing here for the first time. I’m looking forward tomorrow, but it’s not the best way to win this match.”

Result – Quarter-Final: Women’s NetSuite Open 2016
[2] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 7-0 ret. (24m)

Gaultier Makes it Past Cuskelly to Achieve Fifth Straight NetSuite Open Semis Berth

World Champion Gregory Gaultier will compete in a fifth successive NetSuite Open semi-final after defeating Australian No.1 Ryan Cuskelly in straight games.

Gaultier, a two-time winner in both 2012 and 2014, braved the slippery court conditions to open up a one-game lead after a number of controlled rallies from the imperious ‘French General’ saw him repeatedly fire the ball to left-hander Cuskelly’s back hand side.

World No.13 Cuskelly responded by slowing the pace down and lifting the ball to move Gaultier away from the middle of the court, and that change in style paid initial dividends as he kept up with Gaultier for much of the second game.

But Gaultier’s unflinching physicality saw him pull away to double his advantage and the World No.2 fended off late interest from his opponent in the third and final game to set up a semi-final meeting with Egypt’s Marwan ElShorbagy.

“I was really looking forward to this match, I haven’t played Ryan for a long time,” said Gaultier.

“He is really tricky and he has really good hands, so I had to impose my pace and the conditions were cold, so I had to be on my toes with his tricky shots. I tried to stay positive because I’ve had a bit of a nightmare this season with injuries. In my career, I’ve done everything I wanted, so every time I step on court it’s all a bonus.

“I tried to step up on the ‘T’, to volley as much as possible and be aggressive with my shots. If you stay too passive, then I think you put yourself under pressure, so I had to keep control of the middle area and play the best squash I can play. I’m still not at my best yet, but I’m looking forward to improving my game.”

Result – Quarter-Final: Men’s NetSuite Open 2016
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [8] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 (47m)