Willstrop through as Matthew withdraws

squash: Nick Matthew was forced to withdraw from the Kuwait Cup after finally admitting defeat in his battle to ignore an adductor injury.

By The Newsroom

Published 28th Nov 2011, 10:11 BST

The world No 1 was due to face second seed Karim Darwish yesterday afternoon but pulled out and will head home to Sheffield for treatment.

“I know that if I was to play and it snapped, then I could be out for a very long time,” he said.

Fellow Yorkshireman James Willstrop, however, made it through to the final four and will take on long-time rival Gregory Gaultier, who he defeated on his way to winning the recent Hong Kong Open.

The 28-year-old, from Leeds, saw off the challenge of fellow Englishman Peter Barker 11-9 11-7 11-7.

Darwish will face fellow Egyptian Mohamed El Shorbagy in the other semi-final.