2004 SSA Global Windy City Squash Open > Semis Search Squashtalk
  2004 WINDY CITY


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Semifinals Recap
©2004 by Phil Yarrow Aidan Harrison
April 3, 2004
Gregory Gaultier makes it to his third consecutive Windy City final.
(photo: ©2004 Debra Tessier)
The University Club of Chicago was buzzing with the excitement of watching four of the greatest athletes in the world battle for two positions in the 2004 SSA Global Windy City Open Championships. A Frenchman, Egyptian, Englishman and Canadian all wanted to go one day further, but who would bring their ‘A’ game?

The gallery rushed to their seats when the doors opened fifteen minutes before the start time. Gaultier was seen charming the crowd before he had even struck a ball. Gaultier’s opponent in the first semi-final was Egyptian Omar Elborolossy. The flamboyant Frenchman took control early in the first game, taking the ball early and using his tremendous racket skills to work Elborolossy around the court. He extended an early 5-3 lead to 11-6 and although the Egyptian closed back to within three points Gaultier comfortable closed out the 12 minute first game 15-9.

Elborolossy is a tall, athletically built player, with great movement and steady and precise shots. He started the second game better and began to pressure Gaultier into more errors. He took 5-3 and 6-5 leads, before Gaultier regained control and the lead at 11-8. Elborolossy then hit two backhand cross-court nicks and a backhand drop shot winner to get back to 11-11. At 12-12, a backhand crosscourt wrong footed Gaultier, followed by another drop shot winner to give Elborolossy game ball. Gaultier saved the first game ball and then a “no let” call tied the score at 14-14. The players alternated points to 16-16 before Elborolossy closed out the game with a fine backhand crosscourt nick off Gaultier’s serve.
Omar Elborolossy (right) and Gregory Gaultier took turns dominating the match.
(photo: ©2004 Debra Tessier)
Buoyed by winning the second game, Elborolossy raced to an 11-1 lead in the third, aided by a number of Gaultier tins. He then closed out the game 15-4 in 8 minutes. Gaultier was not to be outclassed by the racket skills from Elbororlossy, and showed his French flair from Aix-en-Provence. Delicately chipping in soft drop shots and punching heated crosscourts, he was able to work his opponent into every inch of the glass court. As bad as he was in the third game, he was that good in the fourth. He rushed to a 10-3 lead before he made his first error. Elbororlossy capitalized and pulled two points back, but it was not enough and Gaultier won 15-6 in 10 minutes.

In the fifth game, Gaultier jumped out of the blocks and took a 11-5 lead, he wanted to finish it quick. Elborolossy has been coached on pride, and gave a gutsy effort, but the Frenchman had the last word taking his spot in his third consecutive Windy City final 15-7.
The second semi-final matched England’s Nick Matthew (front) with Canadian Graham Ryding.
(photo: ©2004 Debra Tessier)
The second semi-final matched England’s Nick Matthew with Canadian Graham Ryding. Ryding, of course, was fresh from his upset five game win against number one seed Karim Darwish the night before. Ryding must have known he would have his hands full again tonight against the fit 23 year old Englishman, who has been in great form recently on the PSA tour. The first game was extremely even with neither player able to force more than a two point advantage. At 11-10 though, Matthew stepped up and with some tremendous forehand volley winners closed out the game in one hand 15-10.

Matthew kept up the pressure early in the second game taking a quick 7-3 lead, which he then extended to 12-6. Ryding dug in though and got back to within two at 11-13. A devastating forehand kill shot from Matthew gave him game ball, and he eventually won the game 15-11 after Ryding tinned a volley boast at the end of a long hard fought rally.

Matthew continued to play consistent, virtually error free squash in the third game. Ryding hung in there, but was always behind and constantly chasing Matthew’s attacking volleys. Eventually Mathew won the third 15-9, to prevail three games to zero in 55 minutes.

The final is set. Two young players , exciting and entertaining, out to prove who is the Windy City champion of 2004. Continuing from the World team championships in Vienna, England versus France on a Sunday in Cathedral Hall……!!!!
 
Omar Elborolossy and Gregory Gaultier leave the court to a huge round of applause. A shame there had to be a loser after such a fine match.
(photo: ©2004 Debra Tessier)
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Nick Matthew controlled the T like he owned it.
(photo: ©2004 Debra Tessier)

 
Ryding hung in there, but was always behind and constantly chasing Matthew’s attacking volleys.
(photo: ©2004 Debra Tessier)

Cathedral Hall was hopping tonight with the amateur tournament in full swing. Some of the amateur semifinals and finals are being played on the tour court. .(photo: ©2004 Debra Tessier)



RESULTS: SSA Global Windy City Open Squash Championship, Chicago, USA (complete draw)

Nick Matthew (ENG)(3) bt Graham Ryding (CAN)(5) 15-10, 15-11, 15-9
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)(2)bt Omar Elborolossy (EGY)(4) 15-8, 16-17, 4-15, 15-7, 15-7