British Open: Nick Matthew prepares to adjust for next battle against Tarek Momen

NICK MATTHEW is preparing for a 'different challenge' in the quarter-finals after battling through a gruelling second round clash with Simon Rosner at the British Open in Hull.
SAFELY THROUGH: Nick Matthew celebrates victory over Germany's Simon Rosner in Hull. Picture courtesy of PSA.SAFELY THROUGH: Nick Matthew celebrates victory over Germany's Simon Rosner in Hull. Picture courtesy of PSA.
SAFELY THROUGH: Nick Matthew celebrates victory over Germany's Simon Rosner in Hull. Picture courtesy of PSA.

The 36-year-old world No 4 from Sheffield took just over an hour to beat an opponent ranked just five places below him in the world rankings at the Airco Arena.

He will now face Egypt’s Tarek Momen, ranked a place below Rosner, on Thursday, the world No 10 seeing off New Zealand’s Paul Coll 11-6, 11-9, 20-18.

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“I was prepared to work really hard against Simon, the last couple of times against him it’s been a tough four or five game match,” said fourth seed Matthew, who won the last competitive meeting against Momen when they met at Chicago’s Windy City Open last year.

“Everyone I play is going to be a tough match and I’m looking forward to playing Tarek, he’s a different style of player to Simon’s power.

“Tarek has the speed and the touch so it will be different challenge, but I’ve got a day and a half to prepare for it and a chance to recover.”

Elsewhere, defending champion and world No 1 Mohamed ElShorbagy took a step closer to a third successive title with a 12-10, 11-4, 11-7 win over England’s Daryl Selby.

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The world No 15 held two game balls in game one, but steely determination from ElShorbagy helped him to take four straight points to go ahead, a lead he never relinquished.

“That’s the hunger I used to have when I was climbing up the rankings,” said ElShorbagy.

“When I got to No.1, I wanted to win everything, which I haven’t, so I am still hungry. I was pumping myself after every point, I wasn’t angry with anyone else just myself, I told Daryl it wasn’t about him, it was me.”

In the women’s draw, Emily Whitlock caused a shock by defeating fellow Englishwoman and three-time semi-finalist, Alison Waters 11-4, 11-7, 11-9. She now faces world No1 Nour El Sherbini in the last eight, the pre-tournament favourite dispatching Hong Kong’s Annie Au in just 25 minutes.

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Fifth seed Laura Massaro kept on track to repeat her 2013 triumph at the event when she eased past Egyptian qualifier Mayar Hany 11-5, 11-1, 11-9.

RESULTS

Men’s 2nd Round

[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 3-0: 12-10, 11-4, 11-7 (37m); [7] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [Q] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-2, 11-9 (30m); [8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Paul Coll (NZL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 20-18 (62m); [4] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Simon Rösner (GER) 3-1: 11-7, 11-5, 5-11, 11-3 (62m).

Women’s 2nd Round

[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [10] Annie Au 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 (25m); [13] Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt [8] Alison Waters (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-9 (31m); [5] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Mayar Hany (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-1, 11-9 (29m); [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [12] Joshna Chinappa (IND) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (27m).

Thursday’s matches

Men’s 2nd round: [3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Cameron Pilley (AUS), Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v Max Lee (HKG), [5] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Diego Elias (PER), Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v [2] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)

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Women’s 2nd round: [Q] Nada Abbas (EGY) v [15] Donna Urquhart (AUS); Tesni Evans (WAL) v [7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG); [6] Nicol David (MAS) v [14] Joey Chan (HKG); [11] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v [2] Camille Serme (FRA)

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