Gaultier Reigns Supreme At US Open

After the longest gap between title wins in the history of the event, 2006 champion Gregory Gaultier clinched the 2013 Delaware Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships title after beating former champion Nick Matthew in straight games in the final of the fifth PSA World Series event of the year at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

It was a supreme performance by the top-seeded Frenchman who was celebrating his fourth successive appearance in a PSA World Tour event final since May - and carved his way through the world-class field without dropping a game.

World No2 Gaultier took early leads in all three games - 6-1, 4-1 and 5-2 - and only in the second did third seed Matthew, the world No4 from England, threaten to close the gap.

The climax between two of the sport's former world number ones took 51 minutes to complete - the second game alone lasting more than 20 minutes - with Gaultier concluding his masterclass in an 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 scoreline.

"It's amazing," said the delighted 30-year-old from Aix-en-Provence. "The last time I won this was 2006 so to win it again here in this great venue is like a dream.

"I gave 500% today, I tried to play fast and use a lot of variation as he's so strong in the middle of the court," explained Gaultier - after notching up the 25th PSA World Tour title of his career.

"For me it's my fifth tournament in a row, Nick has only just started after five months off, so I have the matches in my legs - maybe that was the difference tonight.

"I'm sure he'll come back strong, maybe we can have another match in the World Open final next week!

"The sponsors, the organisation and the venue here are all fantastic, and they're doing great things in helping to raise the women's game too."

Matthew, the 33-year-old from Sheffield who 24 hours earlier extended his seven-year winning run over fellow countryman James Willstrop to 16 matches, summed up his feeling about the final later on Twitter.

"Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say that despite giving it everything you were beaten by the better player," tweeted the 2007 champion.

Official website: www.usopensquash.com

US Open image courtesy of Squashpics.com