Opening tests produce few worries for Yorkshire rivals

YORKSHIRE’S Nick Matthew and James Willstrop had few worries booking their place in the second round of the World Championship in Manchester yesterday, both winning their opening matches in straight games.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Oct 2013, 22:36 BST
EARLY STRETCH: Pontefract's James Willstrop, right, in action against Derbyshire's Joel Hinds in their World Squash Championships first round encounter.EARLY STRETCH: Pontefract's James Willstrop, right, in action against Derbyshire's Joel Hinds in their World Squash Championships first round encounter.
EARLY STRETCH: Pontefract's James Willstrop, right, in action against Derbyshire's Joel Hinds in their World Squash Championships first round encounter.

Two-time champion Matthew, from Sheffield, saw off the challenge from Egyptian qualifier 
Zahed Mohamed by winning 11-5 11-4 11-4 in 39 minutes.

The 33-year-old fourth seed, who won the event in 2010 and 2011, will face Hong Kong’s Max Lee this afternoon after the 25-year-old defeated Halifax-based Jonathan Kemp 11-7 13-11 12-10.

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Third seed Willstrop also progressed 3-0, winning 11-4 11-4 13-11 against Derbyshire’s Joel Hinds, who may have been slightly hampered by his gruelling victory in the final round of qualifying on Sunday when he beat fellow Englishman Chris 
Ryder 11-6 11-5 8-11 3-11 14-12 in 78 minutes.

Willstrop, a beaten finalist in 2010, will now take on Tom 
Richards, who took almost an hour to see off the challenge of fellow Englishman Ben Coleman 11-8 11-7 11-9.

Possibly waiting for Willstrop in tomorrow’s third round will be Spain’s Borja Golan, the ninth seed, who defeated Harrogate-based Chris Simpson 11-9 6-11 9-11 11-8 11-5 after a hard-fought 110 minutes to book a second-round encounter today with Mexican qualifier Cesar Salazar.

Undisputed world No 1 and pre-tournament favourite Ramy Ashour made it 46 PSA Tour games unbeaten, but had to come from behind to win 10-12 13-11 11-3 11-4 against Laurens Jan Anjema from the Netherlands in just over an hour.

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No 2 seed Gregory Gaultier, who beat Matthew earlier this month in the final of the US Open in Philadelphia, also made it through, but was given a decent workout by Denmark’s Kristian Frost before prevailing 11-8 11-7 11-6.

Related topics:YorkshireManchesterSheffield