Gaultier gets his revenge

25-Mar-2010 - Squash Australia

Second seeded Frenchman Gregory Gaultier ended David Palmer’s defence of his Canary Wharf Classic squash title in London when he beat the Australian in a superb quarter-final on Wednesday.
Palmer beat Gaultier in the semi-finals last year and looked on track for another win when he led two games to one, only for the Frenchman to come back and win 11-3, 6-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-6 in the best match of the tournament.
Gaultier began superbly, winning the opening game for the loss of just three points, but he fell awkwardly on game ball and had to receive treatment.
He came back on to clinch the game but Palmer sensed an opportunity and dominated the next two games.
Then it was Gaultier’s turn to fight his way back into the match and he led 5-1 in the fourth before Palmer turned the tables to draw level at 6-6. 
Gaultier maintained his control to win 11-7 to take the match to a fifth game. He built up a 6-2 lead but the 33-year-old Palmer again dug deep to launch a comeback.
At one stage he left the court to argue with referee Jos Aarts and accused Gaultier of blocking his path to the ball.
It was a fiery finish to the match but again the Frenchman held his nerve to win in 81 minutes of classic squash.
 “David has been a great champion down the years and he is still playing amazing squash at 33,” Gaultier said of the four time British Open winner.
“I have so much respect for what he has done in the game and I am very pleased to win.”
Palmer will likely head Australia’s challenge at the Commonwealth Games in October, but an indication of how tough that task will be is that three of the four semi-finalists in London are Englishmen.

Quarter-final results – prefix denotes seeding

3-James Willstrop (ENG) bt 8-Daryl Selby (ENG) 9-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-8
1-Nick Matthew (ENG) bt 6-Thierry Lincou (FRA) 11-8, 11-5, 11-5
2-Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt 5-David Palmer (AUS) 11-3, 6-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-6
4-Peter Barker (ENG) bt 7-Alister Walker (ENG) 11-6, 11-8, 11-4