Gaultier Tested In US Open Defence

Title-holder Gregory Gaultier survived the first round of the US Open, but the third seed was severely tested for 71 minutes before overcoming unseeded Australian Cameron Pilley in the PSA Super Series Platinum squash event which is being staged in New York City for the first time since 1991.

Gaultier, who this month became the first Frenchman to win the British Open title in the 77-year history of the event, finally despatched the 23-year-old from New South Wales 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 - and will now face England's Adrian Grant for a place in the quarter-finals.

Grant, the 14th seed from London, also endured a marathon first round battle before emerging the 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-10 (6-4) victor over Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema after 88 minutes.

By contrast, two further Englishmen booked places in the last sixteen after straightforward straight games first round wins. James Willstrop, the No5 seed who lifted the Prince English Grand Prix title earlier in the month, ended domestic interest in the event when he defeated US wild card opponent Gilly Lane 11-2, 11-5, 11-6 in 37 minutes.

The Yorkshireman will now meet Malaysia's 15th seed Mohd Azlan Iskandar, who needed 75 minutes to beat Canadian Shahier Razik 11-4, 4-11, 11-8, 11-2.

Willstrop's England team-mate Peter Barker took out French qualifier Renan Lavigne 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 and is rewarded by a second round meeting with favourite Amr Shabana, the world number one from Egypt who ended the brave run of Belgium's Stefan Casteleyn, beating the 33-year-old New York-based qualifier 11-4, 11-9, 10-11 (1-3), 11-7.

An all-Egyptian second round clash will take place between Wael El Hindi and Karim Darwish after eighth seed El Hindi prevailed against Borja Golan when the Spaniard retired injured after 86 minutes with the score standing at 10-11 (0-2), 11-7, 11-7, 3-2 - and tenth seed Darwish defeated veteran Welshman Alex Gough 11-5, 11-8, 11-2.

1st round (top half):
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Stefan Casteleyn (BEL) 11-4, 11-9, 10-11 (1-3), 11-7 (52m)
[13] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Renan Lavigne (FRA) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 (39m)
[8] Wael El Hindi (EGY) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 10-11 (0-2), 11-7, 11-7, 3-2 ret. (86m)
[10] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Alex Gough (WAL) 11-5, 11-8, 11-2 (45m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 (71m)
[14] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-10 (6-4) (88m)
[5] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Gilly Lane (USA) 11-2, 11-5, 11-6 (37m)
[15] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-4, 4-11, 11-8, 11-2 (75m)