British Open: Nick Matthew contemplates future after injury strikes in Hull

The former world No 1 and three-time winner bowed at the Airco Arena in Hull after sustaining an ankle injury in his second round match against Egypt’s Ali Farag.

The 35-year-old Yorkshireman was 2-1 up before his movement slowed considerably towards the end of the fourth after picking up the injury. Farag quickly levelled things up and, despite battling bravely, Matthew was unable to match him in the final game as Farag wrapped up a 4-11, 13-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4 victory.

It marked the latest injury setback for the British No 1, who was forced to retire hurt during the final of the Windy City Open three weeks ago.

“I have to go away and consider my future because I can’t go on playing at 80 per cent every tournament,” said Matthew, who has won 33 titles on the PSA World Tour.

“I’ve done well and shown my mental strength and experience but I wish I could just play fit.

“But I’m out there doing what I love, it’s just frustrating when one movement makes that ankle go again. I’ve spent a year doing everything I could to get fully fit and you do start to question your future. I have to go and figure out how to come back from it and do myself justice on court.”

Farag, who will now meet 2013 winner and fellow Egyptian Ramy Ashour, added: “I knew he wasn’t at his best towards the end of the fourth, but I am glad it didn’t get into my head and I was able to carry on playing my game.

“I don’t want to be satisfied yet, I want to keep progressing until the following round until I win it.”

Ashour came back from the brink of elimination after saving a match ball against Australian No 2 and sparring partner Ryan Cuskelly in a dramatic 106-minute encounter – the second longest match of the Egyptian’s career.

Ashour had raced into a 2-0 lead only to see his lead shattered by a resurgent Cuskelly, who eventually found himself 9-3 up in the deciding fifth game.

But Ashour battled back and overturned a match ball for Cuskelly at 11-10 to bring an end to a thrilling encounter by an 11-5, 11-9, 6-11, 9-11, 13-11 scoreline.

“Every match I am just pushing myself,” said Ashour.

“Today I was a bit hesitant so in the next match I will be all the way in. The match was scary in patches but it was definitely better than in the last round.

“I felt a lot freer on court and I didn’t think about my body as much.

“He played amazingly so all credit to him. If it wasn’t for my comeback at the end he could have got it.”

Harrogate’s Chris Simpson saw his hopes ended, but only after he spent 95 minutes on court with Germany’s Simon Rosner, who eventually progressed to the quarter-finals on the back of a hard-fought 11-8, 10-12, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4 triumph.

He will meet second seed Gregory Gaultier, who enjoyed an 11-5, 11-1, 11-9 win over South Africa’s Stephen Coppinger.

In the women’s draw, five-time winner Nicol David cemented her place in the quarter-finals thanks to an 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 routine win over Australia’s Donna Urquhart.

Egyptian duo Nour El Sherbini and Omneya Abdel Kawy also won against Hong Kong pair Liu Tsz-Ling – who had stunned Harrogate’s Jenny Duncalf in the first round – and Joey Chan, respectively, while United States No1 Amanda Sobhy took out England’s Alison Waters in an impressive three-game triumph.

RESULTS
Allam British Open, Second Round Men’s Draw

Ali Farag (EGY) bt [3] Nick Matthew (ENG) 3-2: 4-11, 13-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4 (68m)

[5] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 3-2: 11-5, 11-9, 6-11, 9-11, 13-11 (106m)

[7] Simon Rösner (GER) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 3-2: 11-8, 10-12, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4 (95m)

[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-1, 11-9 (44m)

Second Round Women’s draw

[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [Q] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) 3-1: 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 11-1 (27m)

[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [11] Alison Waters (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-2, 11-3 (28m)

[6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 (22m)

[2] Nicol David (MAS) bt Donna Urquhart (AUS) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (27m)