U.S. Open Squash

 Nicol completes the set

The U.S. Open was the only major title that was missing from Nicol David’s trophy cabinet, but tonight in Philadelphia not only did she fill that particular gap, by gaining revenge for her home defeat in the Malaysian Open final by Raneem El Weleily, she set a new record of WSA titles, moving one ahead of Sarah Fitz-Gerald to 63.

Compared to yesterday’s semifinals this was a fast an furious match with El Weleily unafraid as ever to go for her shots and David, as well as trying to contain her opponent, at times joining in the shotmaking contest, more often than not to good effect.

After the Egyptian made the slightly better start the first game was evenly contested, David leading 9-6 but El Weleily firing in four winners to earn game ball. She would have three chances, but Nicol typicall took her first opportunity as an Egyptian dropshott found the tin for 14-12.

Raneem reduced the errors to lead all the way in the second, taking it 11-8, and at 4-0, 5-1 and 6-2 to the Egyptian in the third Nicol looked in trouble.

As she said last night though, she’s been there before, many many times, and a run of eight unanswered points took her to 10-6, then 11-6 on another Egyptian error.

The top seed held a slight advantage throughout the fourth, and from 8-6 two short volleys into the nick brought up match ball. A dropshot saw Raneem struggle to reach the ball, tripping over her opponent and she was just being assisted to her feet when the unsurprising, but nevertheless somewhet anticlimactic, “no let” decision came.

A first U.S. Open title, revenge for a home defeat, and a new record, not a bad night’s work even for Nicol!

“I can’t believe it,” said a delighted new champion, “I keep thinking I should still be out there running after Raneem’s dropshots like I’ve been doing all night!

“When she gets on a roll like she did in the third she can score six points before you’ve even moved off the ‘T’, but I just got my act together, became more positive and stronger on my shots, and played my game not hers, which is what Liz [Irving] had told me to do.

“It feels fantastic to be U.S. Open champion! Next I just hope we can get in the Olympics - if we do I’ll make sure I’m there, even if I have to turn up with my walking stick!”

Ramy races to title

There was a first time men’s winner too as Ramy Ashour continued his recent run of good results against Gregory Gaultier to beat the Frenchman in straight games in a match lasting two minutes less than the preceding women’s final.

For Gaultier it was almost like a role reversal from yesterday’s semifinal with James Willstrop. There, he had been in control and in the lead from the outset, yet today he was the one doing the chasing, on the court and the scoreboard.

Ashour, playing with the speed and control with which he finished his semi-final with Nick Matthew, was quickly 6-3 up in the opening game, and took it 11-4.

A 6-1 start to the second for the Egyptian, which Gaultier pegged back to 6-7 and then held it to 9-all, but Ashour found two winners to double his lead.

After an even start to the third Ashour raced away again, from 5-all to 9-5 in a flash, and although Gaultier again pulled back, on Ramy’s third match ball Greg’s volley found the tin and another new U.S. Open champion was crowned.

“I lost in this final three years ago so to win a prestigious title like this against such a great player as Greg feels just unbelievable,” said Ramy.

"I felt good on court tonight but I had to fight really hard to win.

“It’s been a great week, everyone here does a tremendous job and makes us all feel so welcome, so thanks to everyone involved and we’re all looking forward to next year already!”

Semifinals day at the Delaware Investments U.S. Open at Drexel University, and the crowd were treated to a quartet of fine matches - two marathon women's encounters which saw the top seed come back from the bring of defeat and the defending champion go out, followed by a pair of commanding performances from the men's third and fourth seeds to defeat the top-ranked English pair.

Nicol back from the brink

For two games all looked well for Nicol David, who was bidding to reach her first U.S. Open final here at Drexel University in Philadelphia, as she went two games up against qualifier Joelle King, who was competing well enough but couldn’t stop the Malaysian top seed, world number one and world champion from keeping her nose in front with the patient, probing squash that is her stock in trade these days.

So, 11-6, 11-6 to the Malaysian.

But then the spectre of David’s last two tournaments, both of which she failed to win in a first since 2009, reared its ugly head as King struck back to take the next two games 11-5, 11-8, this time the Kiwi being the one who went, and stayed, ahead.

Not that the pattern of play had changed, but the odd unforced error or loose shot that heralded the end of the rally was now coming from Nicol rather than Joelle.

And so it continued into the fifth as Joelle took a 6-0 lead with Nicol seemingly unable to do much about it. She kept plugging away, as she does, and with Joelle perhaps playing a little too safe as she saw the upset on the horizon, the points started going the other way.

By the time Nicol got back to 6-all the momentum had well and truly turned again, and it was Joelle who was now struggling to find a way to finish off points.

From 6-all the end came quickly, Nicol resuming her dominant mode, playing more aggressively with even the lucky nicks at the back going her way now. It was only a loose shot resulting in a stroke at 10-6 that prevented 11 points in a row.

The winning shot was a crisply struck volley drop from midcourt, and Nicol was back from, if not the dead, then certainly the brink, and the unthinkable three losses in a row was averted.

“I just knew that it’s not over until it’s over,” said a delighted and relieved winner. “I’ve been there before and it’s just down to being determined not to let it go, not making any errors and getting my momentum back.

“I did that, I found my game, and I’m so pleased to win 3-2 and make the final!”

Raneem reaps revenge

Last night we lost the defending men’s champion as Nick Matthew won a five-game thriller against Amr Shabana to avenge his defeat in last year’s final, and tonight in the second women’s semifinal Raneem El Weleily also prevailed in five games to avenge her defeat in last week’s Carol Weymuller final and dethrone Laura Massaro in the process.

The match was a much sharper affair than the first, with fast-paced rallies and both players more than keen to exploit any openings they could create.

The Egyptian second seed amade a few errors, as she always does, but they became fewer and fewer as the match progressed and Massaro, who took the first 11-8, was having to work harder to stay in touch.

Raneem pulled clear from the middle of the second to take it 11-8, and came from 7-9 down to take the third 11-9 with four clean winners.

Laura held the advantage throughout the fourth, but was caught at 9-all after a series of perfect lengths fom the Egyptian racket. She earned a game ball with a dropshot but tinned her first chance. Raneem should have had match ball when she tinned the easiest of volleys with Laura stranded - “that’s one I’ll remember for a long time” she said afterwards - and there was no reprieve as Laura levelled 12-10.

It was all El Weleily in the decider, 7-1 ahead in a flash, 10-2, not long after, and at 10-4 a return of serve was smashed into the nick to complete the revenge and end Laura’s reign.

“It feels great to be in the final,” said a happy winner, “she’s such a strong player I’m really happy I could beat her today.

“I was more balanced in my head today compared to yesterday,” she added. “It was still a bit up and down, but I was a lot calmer. Now I just need to get relaxed for the final ...”

Gaultier gallops into the final

“I felt really good right from the start,” said Gregory Gaultier after a comprehensive straight-game win over top seed and world number one James Willstrop in the first men’s semifinal. “I felt that James wasn’t quite there, a little slow ... or maybe I just played too well, I don’t know,” quipped the Frenchman.

And that just about summed up the match. Gaultier was always ahead, always seemed to be in charge of the rallies, and although many of them were long, Greg seemed to be the likely winner of them most of the time.

Three consecutive 80-minute plus matches can’t have helped Willstrop’s cause, but that’s not to detract from a fine performance from Gaultier, and a well-deserved 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 win and a place in the final

“He’s been playing so well and making all the finals,” added Gaultier, “and in the end it just takes its toll on your body, I’ve been there myself.

“I analysed my matches at the British Grand Prix two weeks ago,” explained the Frenchman, who lost a 118-minute semifinal against Willstrop there, “and adjusted a few things.

“It was fantastic to win a major event like this in 2006, and I’m pleased to be back in the final, it would be great if I could win it again, I just hope the next two play for five hours!”

Improved Ramy reaches the final

Ramy Ashour claimed the last remaining place in the finals with a display that very different from his showing last night when he beat Peter Barker by the skin of his teeth. Tonight he faced another Englishman in Nick Matthew, the second seed bidding to reach a second successive final.

It didn’t start too well for the Egyptian as Matthew took an early lead and increased it to 10-6. Ashour, seeming to be snapping his shots with mare angle and venom than last night, and skipping around court as well as ever, took the next five points and eventually took what proved to be a crucial lead 15-13 on his third game ball.

It was a fast-paced game with plenty of thrilling rallies and incident to keep the crowd well entertained, even if at times there seemed to be a bit of niggle between the players.

Matthew managed to contain his opponent in taking a second game he always led 11-8, but Ashour refused to be contained for the next two games in which he, this time, always led, taking the third narrowly 11-8 and the fourth more comfortably 11-4,

He finished it with a trademark volley drop that brought the appreciative crowd at Drexel University to its feet one final time.

“I’m happy with how I played tonight,” said Ramy,”I didn’t make the mistake I made yesterday of concentrating on what my opponent was doing. It’s always about how I deal with it mentally, and I was happy with that too tonight.

“I’ll need to make sure I can recover and be at 100% tomorrow, Greg looks to be on top form ...”

Matthew reflected on the match: “It’s not the first time I’ve lost a lead like I had in the first to Ramy, so he must be doing something right. I thought I’d won it on a video review - that didn’t go my way but I still had four more chances. I think I should have won the first and if I’d gone 2-0 up it might have been different.

“He played well though, he adapted to tonight’s slower conditions better than me, and my defence wasn’t as good as Pete’s last night and the work he made me do took its toll and I faded a bit in the fourth. In the end he got on top and deserved to win.”

Massaro wins British battle in Philly

Defending champion Laura Massaro maintained her impressive record in Philadelphia with a straight-game win over British rival Madeline Perry that was far from straightforward.

Perry, the 35-year-old from Northern Ireland, started well as she opened up a 3-0 lead in the first, but Massaro quickly closed that down to 3-all, and they traded points to reach 5-all. Perry took the next on a stroke but that was her last of the game as six unanswered points from Massaro put her in the lead.

The second was close all the way but again it was the Englishwoman who finished stronger, at 9-all finishing the game with two crisp dropshots off Perry boasts that she read well.

It looked all over for Perry as she fell 6-0 down in the third, but the pace and strength of hitting increased as she worked her way back to one point adrift at 7-8. Again though Massaro found the finishing touches with three points in a row, finishing with a flashing crosscourt beyond the despairing racket of Perry.

"I felt it was really close in the middle of the games," said Massaro. " I had to try and stay focused and managed to get a run of points at the end of the first two.

"I started the third really well, keeping it off her volley, but I think I relaxed a bit thinking it was almost over and she fought back really well.

"I had to scrap for it in the end so I'm really pleased to come away with a 3-0 win."

Raneem squeezes into semi

The second women’s quarterfinal was played at a much faster pace than the first, as it was bound to be with Raneem El Weleily displaying her usual range of shots and Kasey Brown as determined as ever in chasing them down, applying her own pressure and winners too when the Egyptian world number three allowed her to.

The match was characterised by swings of fortune and score throughout.

El Weleily opened up a lead in the first game, saw it eroded as Brown plugged away, then pulled clear from 7-all to take the lead. The lead changed hands several time in the second with Brown leading 6-3, El Weleily getting to gameball 10-9 first, but the Australian reasserting to take it 13-11.

Similar swings in the third game - El Weleily ahead, Brown recovering to earn a single game ball, El Weleily taking the last three points to regain the lead 12-10. The fourth was virtually an instant replay of the previous game, with Raneem losing a lead but managing to claim the last two points and with it a place in the semifinal.

“That was just so up and down,” said a relieved winner, “I could so easily have won or lost all of those games. She was playing well but I never think about what my opponent is doing, it’s always in my head and I sometimes think I’m fighting myself.

“It’s great to be in the semifinal, but now I need to clear my head and make sure I’m more consistent in the next match and not give away leads like I did tonight.”

Matthew dethrones Shabana in a Classic

In a repeat of last year’s U.S. OPen final, second seed Nick Matthew reversed last year’s result against Amr Shabana to prevail in an five-game thriller full of fabulous squash, changes of fortune, thrills and spills that delighted the crowd at Drexel University.

Long story short, Matthew looked impressive as he took the first, always leading for an 11-6 advantage, but Shabana struck back to take the next two games 11-4 and 12-10, coming from behind in the third to take the lead on extra points.

The defending champion, seeded seven but looking as fit and fresh as he ever has, established a 7-4 lead in the fourth, but this time it was the English world champion’s turn to fight back, taking seven of the next nine points to level the match 11-9.

The expected fireworks in the fifth took a while to materialise as Matthew stormed into a 6-1 lead, subduing his opponent and the crowd. Shabana struck back with some brilliant winners, and levelled at 9-all. Matthew moved to match ball on a stroke, then probably wished he hadn’t wasted his video appeal on the first point of the game as he received a let from which he might have expected more.

A fabulous last rally saw both players covering all four corners of the court, Matthew finally leaving Shabana stranded at the front as he punched the ball deep for the winning point. Shabana’s racket made its own way to the back corner in vain pursuit as the players embraced in mutual respect and the crowd rose in appreciation.

“I really don’t know how I did that,” said Matthew after the 92-minute encounter, “the last few points are a bit of a blur, I expected him to get up and and chase that last ball down, he’d been playing so well!

“I knew he would come out strong, the shape he looks to be in has been the talk of the tour, so it wasn’t a surprise that he played so well - hopefully he’ll carry on and move up the rankings so that I don’t have to meet him in the quarter-finals any more!

“At 2-1 and 7-4 I was down and out, but one of the things I pride myself on is being able to work out what needs doing if things aren’t going the way you’d like, and I was able to do that tonight.

“I had a lead in the fifth, but it always felt like I needed one more point to be really safe, Shabs and Ramy can switch the momentum of a match with a single shot, and sure enough he came back and nearly snatched it.

“I was lucky to win that in the end. I’ll take a little time to go through what went wtong and what went right, then think about preparing for the semifinal - I just hope the others have a long one too!

Ashour scrapes into semis

Matthew got his wish for a long match when Ramy Ashour and Peter Barker contested the third Egypt v England quarterfinal, and it was Ashour who prevailed in a nailbiting 13-11 in the fifth finish after 75 minutes.

Barker, aiming for a hat-trick of English wins, took the first game 12-10 aided by numerous unforced errors from Ashour, who was trying to ensure that at least one Egyptian went through from the four who started the quarterfinals.

He took the second and third games 11-5, 11-6 with Barker now struggling to contain his opponent’s mobility and shotmaking.

Ashour held a slender advantage for the majority of the fourth game, but Barker kept plugging away and the Egyptian errors returned with a vengeance as Barker went from 5-7 down to level the match 11-7.

The decider was close all the way, but only from 7-all did the tension really arrive, and how.

Ramy dived in vain for a dropshot, Barker fell after a collision at the front of the court, Ramy found the tin with his favourite backhand volley then buried one deep into the back corner, Peter scored with Ramy’s own favourite shot then volleyed into the tin, Ramy punted the ball down the middle for a stroke and itt was match ball to the Englishman.

Another Ashour drive drive too deep, a Barker volley into the tin and it was match ball to Ramy, who then received a no let which became a let on video appeal. Ramy got another let which Barker appealed on, that became a no let and it was 11-all.

A chopped volley into the nick brought up a second match ball for Ramy, and at the end of a long rally Barker aimed for the nick but his volley clipped the tin and it was all over after 75 minutes, the last 15 of which were pure drama and tension.

“You try to go for nicks but sometimes it doesn’t work so you have to revert to a basic game,” explained the winner.

“I’m really proud of how I managed to win that. He played so well, but t times it looked as though there was something wrong with him, I think he was trying to fool me, and it broke my concentration, but to win such a match gives me a lot of confidence.

“I just didn’t want to go home, that’s the thing,” concluded Ramy.

Quarterfinals part two

With top seeds Nicol David and James Willstrop already in the last four, set to face Joelle King and Gregory Gaultier in Thursday’s semifinals, tonight’s matches are the bottom half of the draw quarterfinals, with both defending champions in action on the all-glass court at Philadelphia’s Drexel University.

After the women’s semifinals are completed there will be a U.S. Squash Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Bob Callahan.

7pm [2] Nick Matthew (Eng) v [7] Amr Shabana (Egy)

The first men’s match is a repeat of last year’s U.S. Open final between two players who each have almost too many titles to mention.

Matthew’s achievements include 25 PSA titles, two World Opens, three British Opens, two Commonwealth Gold medals, the World Games title, four British National crowns, and he is the reigning champion in all of those plus the Tournament of Champions, Canary Wharf Classic, British Grand Prix, Swedish Open and North American Open.

Not to be outdone Shabana, a year older at 33, can lay claim to 29 PSA titles which include four World Opens, five Hong Kong titles, is the reigning World Series Finals champion and he spent 33 unbroken months as world number one in the middle of the last decade.

Matthew’s spell as top dog is shorter at 16 total months, but more recent as he sat at the summit for the whole of 2011.

They’re both U.S. Open champions of course - Shabana’s six previous appearances brought two titles, in 2010 and 2011, while Matthew has competed in one fewer and has the 2007 title in his locker.

Tonight will be their 21st meeting, all but one in PSA matches, and the advantage lies with the Englishman at 11-9. Some say you’re only as good as your last match, and in this case it was last year’s final here in Philadelphia (although Matthew does lead 5-2 this decade).

Matthew may not have been at peak fitness towards the end of last year’s final and will no doubt have revenge on his mind, while Shabana looks as lean, fit and eager as he ever has, so stand by for a cracking contest.

8pm [4] Ramy Ashour (Egy) v [6] Peter Barker (Eng)

The final match, a third Egypt v England quarterfinal, will see Ramy Ashour, seeded #4 but currently ranked #5, take on Peter Barker, seeded and ranked #6.

Ashour, just turned 25, was the first player to win two World Junior titles, added the senior World Open title in 2008, and already has 24 PSA titles to his name, currently holding the El Gouna and Australian Open titles.

Barker, 29, has claimed 13 PSA titles and has recently made a habit of reaching major semi-finals but has yet to make the big breakthrough, his last wins being in the KL and Santiago Opens of 2009.

This is Barker’s 5th U.S. Open and his third quarterfinal. Ashour has played one less, but has never failed to reach at least the semifinals, losing to Shabana in his sole final appearance in 2010.

The head to head stands 4-2 in the Egyptian’s favor, their latest two meetings, in 2011, being shared with Barker victorious in last December’s PSA Masters.

King stuns Duncalt to qualify for semifinal

The first quarterfinal of the Delaware Investments U.S. Open at Philadelphia’s Drexel University produces a shock of seismic proportions as qualifier Joelle King put out third seed and former champion Jenny Duncalf in a seesaw five game thriller.

Duncalf, hitting the tin far too frequently for her own good, was in some ways fortunate to take a first game in which she didn’t play well, but the New Zealander took complete control in the next two games, adding her own driving winners and drops to Duncalf’s still too high error count.

Maybe nerves got to King in the fourth as she too made a few errors, but Duncalf seemed settle and it was her turn to take advantage.

The start of the decider was always likely to be crucial, and a 5-0 then 7-1 start for King proved enough.

Duncalf started playing some of her best squash, but the gap was too much to bridge, and on her second match ball King was through to the semis.

“There’s less pressure on you when you’re not the seeded players,” explained a delighted winner, “but I’ve been at this level for a while and been close to some big wins so the pressure was maybe from myself.

“In the first game I felt I was in control, but not in control, it was weird. But then I got ahead, she came back but I managed to close it out.

“I’m absolutely stoked to get through, it’s my first semifinal of a Gold event, let alone a World Series, I’m so so pleased!”

Nicol extracts the first bit of revenge

The second women’s quarterfinal offered the prospect of guaranteeing a qualifier in the final, but only if Alison Waters could repeat last week’s win over Nicol David, the dominant force in women’s squash for the last six years.

Not many people have ever beaten Nicol twice in a row, and tonight the Malaysian world number one and world champion was in no mood for a repeat setback.

It wasn’t a dominant performance, but Nicol was always a little bit faster to the ball, a little bit tighter, and apart from the third when Alison kept it level pegging all the way to 9-all, David was always a little bit ahead.

Waters led 9-8 in that third, but a series of great lengths from the Malaysian racket levelled it at 9-all, a dropshot off a loose volley gave her match ball, and Alison’s volley into the tin brought the end as the Englishwoman’s racket went flying in disgust.

That’s one aberration removed for Nicol, now she’ll be aiming to complete the run to the title to remove another.

“She was always going to be up for it having beaten me last week,” said a relieved and delighted winner.

"I knew I had to start strong and fight for every point to stop her getting the feeling she had it again.

“I think I got used to playing on the court a bit quicker than her, but in the third she was finding her length better and becoming more comfortable, it was neck and neck so I was really pleased to finish it in three.

“Hopefully this should kick start me for a big push in the rest of the tournament ...”

Willstrop wins a bruiser

For anyone to take a 10-0 lead at this level takes some doing, but that’s what top seed and world number one James Willstrop did tonight.

He had to wait until the fifth though to open up that commanding lead, having shared the first four games with young Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy in a tough, often brutal encounter lasting 90 minutes.

The Englishman started well enough, helped by a number of errors from Shorbagy, to take the first game, but Shorbagy stepped up the pace, cut down the errors, and for the next three games there was nothing to choose between them.

Into the decider then, and now Willstrop’s control and physical conditioning that has improved so much started to pay dividends.

At 10-0 Shorbagy finally found a dropshot to claim a bagel-saving point, raised his arms and cried “yes” to the delight of the crowd.

Four more points, all from crisp winners followed, and thoughts started to turn to the impossible comeback.

A loose shot resulting in a stroke put paidd to those hopes and a relieved and tired Willstrop was through to a fourth successive U.S. Open semifinal.

"I had a good first, but then he started playing at a really good place and I was failing to take the chances I gave myself at the front, I was a bit weak and tentative in that area ad that helped him," said Willstrop.

“I was pleased with the fifth, mentally and physically, but when he starts coming back hitting winners you just have to pay your game and not panic. If he’d made it you’d have to take your hat off to him, but it was unlikely.

“I’m pleased to get through a match like that, and the format of this tournament with split first round and quarters is best for the players, so I’ll be able to get a bit of recovery tomorrow.”

Greg finishes strongly

A few too many errors from third seed Gregory Gaultier, together with solid play from Karim Darwish, put the Egyptian fifth seed into the lead in the final match of the night.

The Frenchman found improved consistency from the outset of the second game and proceeded to dominate the rest of the match, showing determination when necessary as well as his renowned shotmaking skills.

Never behind in those final three games, it took a minute over the hour for him to set up a semi-final with James Willstrop, a repeat of their marvelous match in last month’s British Grand Prix.

“I struggled at the beginning,” admitted Gaultier.

“I had the wrong strategy, going to the front too soon and he dominated me.

"I changed my tactics completely at the start of the second, tried to push him to the back and take things on the volley as much as I could and it paid off.

“I’m happy to play James again, we had an unbelievable match in Manchester and I’m looking forward to trying to get my revenge.”

After a hectic couple of days we're down to just four matches at Drexel University with the first session of quarterfinals.

As they say in Philly ... stay tuned ...

The opening second round match of the 2012 Delaware Investments U.S. Open at Drexel University was a marathon affair which saw eighth seeded Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy survive a ferocious challenge from Australia’s Cameron Pilley.

Shorbagy, was dominant in the decider though to become the first player to reach the quarterfinals “It’s always tough between me and Cameron, so I’m really happy to have won this time,” said Shorbagy. “

The first of three all-English clashes saw top seed James Willstrop take on Daryl Selby with a 10-0 PSA head to head record in favor, but Selby came close to producing a major upset. The Essex man took a 23-minute first game, and had a 9-4 lead in the third, but felt the force of Willstrop’s will thereafter.

“That was probably one of Daryl’s best performance,” said an impressed and relieved world number one, “I had to bring out my A game to get through that.”

The next two matches were 3-0 victories for Gregory Gaultier and Karim Darwish, the third and fifth seeds. Gaultier won a scrappy encounter with Borja Golan, while Darwish proved his usual efficient self as he dispatched US hope Chris Gordon.

Despite a spirited finish from Gordon, Darwish was always well in control of his match against the home favourite. “You have to focus 100% on every match,” he explained, “it’s important to save energy in the early rounds if you can.”

“I feel a bit tired after that!” said Gordon, who was realistic about the match and pleased with his week.

“I commentated on a lot of Karim’s matches last season so I know how efficient he can be at blitzing people in the early rounds. It was so tough, his length is just immaculate and I just tried to keep it going as much as I could.

“It’s been a fantastic week, I’m so glad to have had this amazing opportunity to play these guys when I’m fresh rather than after slogging through qualifying. The support from U.S. Squash and the crowd has been fantastic, I hope they all enjoyed it as much as I did.”

Nick Matthew and Ramy Ashour, seeded to meet in the semifinals, also recorded straight-game wins over compatriots, but in two very different matches.

Matthew took advantage of an out of sorts Adrian Grant to take the first two games 11-2, 11-5, but Grant was unlucky not to take one of his three game balls as Matthew edged the third 15-13.

“He seems to come alive when he’s 2-0 down,” smiled a relieved winner. “I had a lead in the third and let it go, that’s something we’ll have to work on.”

Ashour and Tarek Momen played out what was by the winner’s own admission a “fast and furious” three games, with court sprints, stretching retrieves, flashing winners and more all thrown in to the delight of the audience.

“It’s always like that between us,” admitted Ashour, “it has been ever since we started playing as juniors. He’s a flying machine, you just have to try to control him.”

Defending champion Amr Shabana survived a shaky opening to his match as Dutchman LJ Anjema overpowered the resurgent former world number one and world champion to take the first game, .but Shabana’s silky skills and smooth shotmaking started to tell as he took the next three games.

“I had a game plan and I stuck to it,” the defending champion revealed afterwards. “He’s physically very strong and it was tough in the beginning, but I’m happy with how I played in the end.

The final match of the day was a third all-English clash, and this one too went to the seedings as Peter Barker kept ahead of regular training partner Tom Richards, who simply couldn’t find the formula to knock the left-handed Barker out of his rhythm.

“I was happy with my form tonight,” said Barker. “Tom maybe wasn’t at his best but I’ll take that and hope to have a good game with Ramy in the quarters.

The main draw of the Women’s 2012 Delaware Investments U.S. Open at Drexel University in Philadelphia got under way with a big upset, and two more followed as Joelle King, Kasey Brown and Alison Waters all gatecrashed the quarterfinals.

Kiwi qualifier King turned the seedings on their head in the first match as she beat seventh seed Nour El Sherbini in straight games. “I’ve always lost to Nour before, when I was the one seeded to win, so it feels pretty to to beat her now when she’s the seeded player,” said a delighted King.

That was followed by another straight-game win as top seed Nicol David took three close games against French qualifier Camille Serme. “It’s strange to think Camille had to qualify,” said David, “she’s such a good player and she was hitting some really good backhand volley drops. I knew I would have to be focused and try to play my game, so I’m pleased I managed to win in three.”

Third seed Jenny Duncalf eased home against Rachael Grinham, jumping out to leads of 4-0, 4-1 and 7-1 in games which she finished off 11-5, 11-8, 11-4 to move through to a meeting with King.

Alison Waters made it an English double as she came through a second successive five-game match, this time getting the better of Natalie Grinham. “I think I was a bit lucky to win that,” admitted Waters, who now plays Nicol David who she beat last week in New York. “It was a bit up and down and at the start of the fifth I just told myself to give it one more push, and thankfully it worked. ”

The second upset came when Brown overcame sixth seed Annie Au 12-10, 11-8, 11-9. “It was kind of a blessing in disguise not being the seeded player for once,” admitted the Australian, who reached the final here last year.

“She beat me in Malaysia, but Rod [Martin, coach] and I came up with a new game plan against her and it worked, but all three games were close.

“This tournament means a lot to me, with Delaware Investments sponsoring me this year, so I’m keen to do well for them, it’s great to see them backing squash in Philly.”

Madeline Perry wasn’t in the mood for an upset though, as she beat qualifier Donna Urquhart 11-5,11-4, 7-11, 11-2. “I went back home after the Weymuller for a few days for my sister’s wedding,” shared Perry, “and I’ve come back feeling like a new woman!”

Neither was defending champion and new world number two Laura Massaro in the mood to mess about in her match against wildcard entry Kristen Lange. Massaro won 11-0, 11-3, 11-4 in 19 minutes and Lange was impressed:

“Wow, she was just awesome! At first I just didn’t have any idea what to do, but after the butterflies had settled down I told myself that this was just squash, so play it. I managed to settle down and it was much better after that, but she was still just too good for me.

“It was a great experience though, and it should serve me well in the buildup to the world teams over the next four months.”

Completing the quarterfinal lineup, second seed Raneem El Weleily overcame Low Wee Wern 11-8, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5, and was satisfied with her performance - in the end:

“When I was playing well it was good, but I wasn’t doing that often enough. My head just wasn’t in the game in the second, and I had to really push myself to get my good form back.”