Win provides Matthew with hope for last four

The 32-year-old world No 2, from Sheffield, suffered an early setback in his bid at the Queens Club when he lost out to defending champion Amr Shabana on Wednesday.

But there was little doubt about Thursday’s result as he eased to a comfortable 11-5 11-6 victory over his Egyptian opponent.

A win over fellow Englishman Peter Barker in Friday’s final round of group games should be enough to secure a last-four spot for Matthew.

“I had to make sure I didn’t get too down after last night’s defeat,” said Matthew, “And now have to make sure I don’t allow myself to get too upbeat after tonight’s win, as I have to win tomorrow’s match to have a chance of qualifying.”

A similar scenario awaits Leeds’s James Willstrop, with the former world No 1 needing to beat Germany’s Simon Rosner on Friday to give him a chance of making the semi-finals.

After an opening-day victory over Karim Darwish, the 29-year-old Yorkshireman was denied 11-6 13-11 by France’s Gregory Gaultier.

“I think it was a high standard,” said top seed Willstrop after his defeat. “I played well for long periods of that match and didn’t come out with anything to show for it.”

In the women’s draw, Harrogate’s Jenny Duncalf could not follow up her opening-day victory over Raneem El Weleily when she succumbed 11-7 11-4 to France’s Camille Serme.

Victory over Nour El Sherbini today (Friday) should be enough to guarantee the former world No 2 a semi-final berth on Saturday.

“Camille played really well and if you put it on her racket like that then you’re going to lose,” said Duncalf.

“(Today’s) another day though and hopefully a good result can see me through.”

One of the biggest shocks on day two came in the women’s draw, when Malaysia’s Nicol David – now in her eighth year as world No 1 – was defeated by England’s Laura Massaro, the current world No 3, who prevailed 12-10 11-9 to gain some revenge for her defeat to David in last month’s World Open final.