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Gaultier defeats Shabana

SAN FRANCISCO — Top seed Gregory Gaultier (France) defeated No. 2 seed Amr Shabana (Egypt) in a dominating 3-0, 32-minute performance (11-3, 11-5, 11-5) to win his second NetSuite Open Squash Championships title in three years tonight on the Glass Court on San Francisco’s South Lawn at Justin Herman Plaza. The Frenchman won his 30th title during his PSA World Tour career, while appearing in his 60th tour final.

The world’s No. 1 player continued his streak of perfection on the shores of San Francisco Bay in this year’s tournament, not losing a game over four matches in this tournament. The 31-year-old reclaimed the title in his third consecutive trip to the finals in San Francisco, defeating Nick Matthew in the 2012 championship before falling to Ramy Ashour in a tough five-game match last year.

“Greg was truly masterful tonight and throughout the whole tournament,” said John Nimick, a U.S. Squash Hall of Famer and President of Event Engine, Inc., the tournament producer. “To thoroughly dominate a player of Amr’s caliber truly shows why Greg is the world’s top player. We’ll see if he can keep his form and win his third NetSuite Open title next year.”

Gaultier now owns a 15-14 advantage in head-to-head matchups with Shabana on the PSA World Tour, with the world’s current top player claiming five of the last six meetings. As the winner of the NetSuite Open, he wins $11,300.

Shabana, a four-time world champion, has lost only two matches in his two appearances at the NetSuite Open, losing both times to Gaultier (3-0 in the 2012 semifinals). With 33 career PSA World Tour titles, he is currently third among active players in championships behind Australia’s Mike Corren (50 titles) and countryman Ramy Ashour (34).

Below is Tuesday’s result:

• No. 1 Gregory Gaultier (France) def. No. 2 Amr Shabana (Egypt) 3-0 (11-3, 11-5, 11-5) 32 min.

NetSuite Open Squash Championships Finals + 2011: Laurens Jan Anjema def. Omar Mosaad (3-2) + 2012: Gregory Gaultier def. Nick Matthew (3-0) + 2013: Ramy Ashour def. Gregory Gaultier (3-2)

Posted on September 30, 2014
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