Gritty Fightback Takes Matthew Into US Open Quarters

From 2/1 down, England's 36-year-old Nick Matthew fought back in trademark style to thwart the charge of German Simon Rösner and secure his place in the quarter-finals of the 2016 Delaware Investments US Open - the second PSA World Series event of the season at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Matthew, the 2007 champion making his 11th appearance in the event since 2003, suffered a surprise first round defeat during last week's NetSuite Open and looked to be facing a first ever defeat to Rösner when, after taking the first game, he found himself behind to the inspired world No.12.

But Matthew responded in emphatic style, using every ounce of the Yorkshire grit that has epitomised his career to go 9-0 up in the fourth and force a decider that he ultimately took 11-8 to set up a last eight encounter with rising Egyptian star Ali Farag.

"I was probably down and out there at 2/1 but thanks to my team in the corner - without them I might have lost the belief," said Matthew.

"I got a good start in the fourth and just told myself to stay patient. I feel like I haven't won a match like that in a little while so it was important for me to win it any way possible. I kept telling myself I had the experience of seeing out these matches and ultimately that proved to be the case.

"I came into this match thinking Simon was the favourite and that I have nothing left to prove and it's the same thing in the quarters. I've played Ali twice and he's beaten me twice, so I'm just going to enjoy it."

Matthew was joined in the quarter-finals by perennial rival Gregory Gaultier, the defending champion who beat New Zealand's Paul Coll in straight games.

The Frenchman, who won the NetSuite Open last week to come into this event in good form, will now face Karim Abdel Gawad for a place in the semi-finals.

"Every game was tough until about 6-6 and then I just managed to up the pace which I think made the difference," said Gaultier.

"There were a lot of tough long rallies and he was reading me well, so I'm pleased it ended 3/0. I'm here to play whoever is in front of me - I'm training to win and to play as hard as possible and do whatever it takes. I'm playing Gawad next but I have no fear and I'll be ready for him."

Defending women's champion Laura Massaro also secured her place in the quarter-finals as she continued to impress, this time dispatching Indian number one Joshna Chinappa 3/0.

The 32-year-old Englishwoman dictated the play from the off to assert her dominance on Chinappa and secure a straight games win that takes her through to face Frenchwoman Camille Serme in the last eight - a player with whom she has lost her last three encounters.

"Joshna is a very dangerous player and if you let her play her shots she can be trouble," said Massaro.

"So I'm really happy to come through 3/0. I felt like I found my length a lot better today than I did in my first round. I was hitting the corners and was really happy about that and felt like it paid off.

"A quarter-final match these days is always huge and it's anyone's game. Last time we played in the British Open I wasn't at my best and she played really well. So in a way the pressure is off, so I'm just really looking forward to it."

Harvard graduate Amanda Sobhy, the American No.1 ranked 6 in the world, also stormed into the quarter-finals courtesy of a comfortable win over Australian Donna Urquhart.

Sobhy, 23, came through 3/1 to down Urquhart and set up a last eight encounter with 19-year-old Egyptian Nouran Gohar, the World Junior champion who beat Sobhy in the final of August's Hong Kong Open.

"It feels amazing to be in the quarters," said Sobhy.

"To be last eight at US Open is huge but I hope to keep going further. I love playing on home turf so I'm hoping to do the best I can for the fans coming out to support me.

"Nouran has been on the rise and has been playing amazingly this past year. She's the player in form and we had a big match in the final in Hong Kong. There's maybe a bit of redemption on offer for me but my focus is on just trying to play well."

US Open image courtesy of www.squashpics.com