MARTIN BRONSTEIN in Richmond, Virginia     [THE DRAW/RESULTS] [PLAYERS CUP STANDINGS]

WILLSTROP CONTINUES RUN
This was  the sort of final that all squash fans and promoters hope for. It was about two players equal in skill and with a similar attitude to the game. They played squash continuously for 83 minutes with few interruptions and few ‘chats’ with the referee. But at the final ball it was James Willstrop from England who emerged the victor over Gregory Gaultier of France  to take the winner’s cheque and the title from the 2008 Davenport  Professional Squash Championship played at the University of Richmond.

Willstrop collects the winner's trophy and on to Boston for the Player's Cup. (photo:©2008 Patricia Lyons)

Gaultier had a dreadful start committing five unforced errors, four of them from his normally lethal forehand drive.  He went on to make  another three errors and fought hard enough to come out of the game with a respectable six points.  Willstrop was meticulous  in his play, fast, attacking, controlling the centre of the court for much of the play and committing just one unforced error.
His performance was not surprising: he had been at the top of his form all week, had done the same in Sweden  and the British championships. It says much for Gaultier that he put the first game behind him and started the second game in a positive frame of mind  and suddenly  he boot was on the other foot. Gaultier hitting some fine winners and Willstrop  committing three unforced errors  to find himself 1-7 down.  But then came the fightback and the two played some wonderful squash, the pace heating up as Willstrop gradually lessened the gap to get to 6-7. Gaultier won the next point on a penalty stroke and gained the next point through Willstrop’s honesty  when he called his own ball down when it just shaved the top of the tin. It was nice to see this sort of sportsmanship still exists, even when there is so much on the line.

Gaultier  then took his tenth point with a rocket-like backhand cross court slam which left Willstrop stranded at the front. After another long rally, Gaultier  was given another stroke and he  had won the long 19-minute game to tie the match.

The third game was evenly balanced, but once again Gaultier put himself  at a disadvantage with six errors.  Willstrop was volleying anything that was slightly loose and maintaining an incredibly high standard of accuracy.  Gaultier fough like a terrier but he could not catch up and  so the game went to Willstrop 11-9.

It wasn’t over yet: Gaultier cut out his errors and they battled hard to 8-8 and then  Willstrop chased a ball to the back and asked for a let. The referees denied the appeal. He then hit  the ball out of court after a long rally to put Gaultier  at game ball. The final point was a stroke for Gaultier.  Willstrop was to say later he really didn’t know why  the fortunes changed, especially in the fourth game.

In the fifth game there was a suggestion that Gaultier was tiring and the errors crept back into his game while Willstrop kept up the pressure and the accuracy to run away first to a 5-0 lead and finally an 11-4 victory to finish a very fine  final.  A great end to a great tournament.

“I really can’t say why  it went back and forth. In a match between two closely matched players it’s a very fine line between winning and losing and getting the upper hand. We were both playing extremely tightly and very good quality squash,” Willstrop explained.

When asked if he was playing at his best he agreed.

“To beat three top tenners and a top 15 player is very  good going. I played well in the Swedish tournament and I played well in the British championships. So I am very happy to playing  at this leverl for so long. I hope it continues in Boston

FINAL RESULT
James Willstrop (ENG)  bt Gregory Gaultier  11-6, 6-11,11-9, 8-11, 11-4  (83 mins)

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