Gaultier Keeps NetSuite Defence Alive In San Francisco

Defending champion Gregory Gaultier is one win away from his fourth successive NetSuite Open final following a thrilling four-game encounter with England's James Willstrop in the quarter-finals of the PSA M100 squash event in San Francisco.

The enigmatic Frenchman, looking for a third title, was taken to the brink against Egyptian Ali Farag in the first round of action but showed no signs of any physical weariness as he came out all guns blazing to romp to the opening game against Willstrop after just nine minutes.

But the Englishman, who has been slowly recovering from a career-threating hip injury during the past 12 months, responded in style, showing glimpses of the form and signature precision hitting that saw him top the world rankings for 11 months in 2012 as he dictated the pace to level the scores.

Drama, tension, intense rallies and superlative hitting dominated a tight third game as both players traded winners to the delight of the crowd. But it was Gaultier who edged it and the physical exertion took its toll on 6'4" Willstrop as his energy levels dropped in the fourth game, allowing the world No.3 from Aix-en-Provence to pounce and secure passage to the semi-finals.

"That was a very tough four games tonight," said Gaultier, who has now closed his PSA head-to-head record with Willstrop to 10-11.

"James is definitely improving and that's the best I've seen him play for a while. At the beginning I was attacking and I could see he was struggling to move but in the second he came out and surprised me and was getting all my shots back.

"Luckily I managed to win the third game which was a big advantage for me and I was able to let my arm go a little in the fourth so I'm very happy to go through today."

The 32-year-old former world number one will now take on World Champion Ramy Ashour, the man who beat him in the 2013 NetSuite Open final, in tomorrow's semi-finals when the duo will be facing off for the 31st time on the PSA World Tour.

Ashour booked his last four berth with a comfortable 3/1 win over Australian qualifier Ryan Cuskelly - while the top half of the draw will see top seed Nick Matthew take on the dynamic world No.4 from Colombia, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, for a place in the final.

NetSuite Open image courtesy of www.squashpics.com