QUARTERS


TODAY	• Grasshopper Cup 2016 • 11-17 April • Zurich •

[ Today ] [ SEMIS ] [ QUARTERS ] [ Day FOUR ] [ Day THREE ] [ Day TWO ] [ Day ONE ] [ PREVIEW ]

TODAY at the Grasshopper Cup

Fri 15th Apr, Day FIVE, Quarter-Finals

Quarter-Finals:

[7] Ali Farag (Egy) 3-1 Chris Simpson (Eng)
                 9/11, 11/6, 11/7, 11/5 (54m)

[1] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) 3-0 [wc] Nicolas Mueller (Sui)
                    11/4, 11/2, 11/7 (38m)

[2] Simon Rosner 3-1 Gregoire Marche (Fra)
                         9/11, 11/6, 11/9, 16/14 (86m)

[4] Marwan Elshorbagy 3-0 [5] Cameron Pilley (Aus)
                        11/9, 11/8, 11/7 (41m)

Mueller's big day out falls flat

No upsets in tonight's quarter-finals of the Grasshopper Cup at the Puls 5 venue, but it wasn't all plain sailing for the higher-seeded players.

Ali Farag had to come from a game down to beat Chris Simpson, as did Simon Rosner, eventually beating young Frenchman Greg Marche 16/14 at the end of a thrilling fourth.

Top seed and defending champion Gregory Gaultier didn't give the home crowd much to cheer as he eased past Swiss wildcard Nicolas Mueller, and Marwan Elshorbagy kept Egyptian interest alive in both halves of the draw as he beat Cameron Pilley in three close games.

photos by
Michele Bollhalder

"Chris is very disciplined player and has a very solid game plan.

"When I matched him he was better than me so I tried to mix it up and change the pace because down the line he is very good. I am happy with how I focused after the first and with how I came through.

"It was not comfortable at all – he kept pushing and made it very tough throughout the match. Every opponent is so tough inside the top 30 – anyone can beat anyone – hopefully next match I will feel more in control on court."

[7] Ali Farag (Egy) 3-1 Chris Simpson (Eng)
9/11, 11/6, 11/7, 11/5 (54m)

Farag first into the semis

Egypt's Ali Farag recovered from losing a close first game against Chris Simpson, becoming more dominant as the match went as as he took the next three games to become the first player to reach the semi-finals.

[1] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) 3-0
[wc] Nicolas Mueller (Sui) 11/4, 11/2, 11/7 (38m)

Gaultier dashes home hopes

Top seed and defending champion Gregory Gaultier wasted little time in dashing the hopes of the home crowd as he eased past local wildcard Nicolas Mueller in straight games.

Only in the third did Mueller threaten, but Gaultier accelerated to wipe out the early deficit and move into the semis in just 37 minutes of play.

"Always tough to play against the local boy – at the end of the day I have to do my job and I was moving better today than in the first round.

"I had to be very aware of his skills. He had a tough first round match and was maybe a bit drained from that and I took full advantage to counter him and dictate the game. I’m moving much better so that’s a positive for me.

"Sometimes we travel to places and it can only be players and refs at the first round so it’s great to play her win front of a good crowd so it’s good to see Switzerland embracing squash."

"I think that was one of the toughest matches that I have played.

"Every time I thought he was tiring he came right back at me and it was an amazing battle but I’m super glad to come through in four.

I’m really pleased to be in the semis – after reaching the final last year it is a good achievement to be back in the last four for me.

"He pressured me a lot in the first and was making em do a lot of work and putting me under pressure. I had to really focus on hitting the corners from the second onwards and I think that ultimately made the difference at the end.

"I need to do what I can now to get back on court tomorrow as fresh as possible."

[2] Simon Rosner 3-1 Gregoire Marche (Fra)
9/11, 11/6, 11/9, 16/14 (86m)

Rosner edges past Marche

In an all European battle between German Simon Rösner and Frenchman Gregoire Marche it was last year’s runner-up Rösner who emerged triumphant after a titanic 86-minute battle.

It was Marche who led throughout the opening game and the World No.27 managed to stave off a big fightback from Rösner to take the lead 11-9 after 22 minutes, but Rösner maintained a slender lead throughout the second to level.

Rosner then looked to heading for a win when he eased 4-0 in the third, but <March dug in, saved two games balls before losing out 11-9.

Marche continued to play superbly in the fourth and got himself back into the match to force extra points. The pair traded points in high drama exchanges that had the crowd on their feet before a pair of errors handed the match to Rösner.

[4] Marwan Elshorbagy 3-0 [5] Cameron Pilley (Aus)
11/, 11/8, 11/7 (41m)

Marwan eases past Pilley

Marwan ElShorbagy recorded a second consecutive straight-games win to move into the semi-finals with a polished victory over Australian Cameron Pilley.

There was never much in it, but it was the young Egyptian who was able to keep ahead and keep the momentum during all three games.

"It has been a good tournament for me so far.

"I finished 3-0 yesterday and again today so I’m feeling fresh which is a good sign. Hopefully I can keep it going tomorrow against Simon. Last time we played he killed me in a 3-0 win so I’ll try and see where I went wrong and prepare myself for tomorrow.

"It’s been a tough season. Cameron was physically tired today which I could feel – he had tough match yesterday as well – but finishing in three means I can be fresh tomorrow."

[ Today ] [ SEMIS ] [ QUARTERS ] [ Day FOUR ] [ Day THREE ] [ Day TWO ] [ Day ONE ] [ PREVIEW ]