The opening match of the day at the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open was an all-English clash between favourite Nick Matthew, the world number one hoping to notch up his sixth Tour title in a row in Hong Kong, and Daryl Selby, the ninth seed who made up for disappointment of a shock first round exit in the recent Australian Open by overcoming top-ranked Malaysian Mohd Azlan Iskandar in the opening round.
The England team-mates know each others’ games inside out – and Matthew was relentless in the pursuit of his 11-7, 12-10, 11-8 win. “Daryl’s improved a lot and he’s looking for scalps of the top players – so I knew it would be tough,” the 30-year-old from Sheffield explained to www.squashsite.co.uk later. “When I got the balance between attack and defence wrong, I had problems. I thought I could have finished a couple of the games off a little better, but that’s credit to him for making it tough.”
Selby was disappointed to lose: "I thought if I could have taken that second I might have put myself in a position to win, but Nick just played the big points at the end of the games better, whereas that’s what I did against Azlan yesterday. “But I’m happy that I played well yesterday and today, after my poor result in Australia, it’s good to get the season started.”
There were also wins for Peter Barker against fellow countryman Alister Walker and James Willstrop who goes on to play Ramy Ashour in the quarter finals.
After a second round win against qualifier Lisa Camilleri 11-3, 11-6, 11-0 in just 19 minutes Laura Massaro, the No7 seed from England will play her next match against world number one and top seed Nicol David.
With a win for Jenny Duncalf, and Alison Waters entering the next round after her opponent Samantha Teran pulled out the competition is edging closer to an all England final.
Mens 2nd round:
1 Nick Matthew (ENG) bt 9 Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-7, 12-10, 11-8 (49m)
8 Peter Barker (ENG) bt 15 Alister Walker (ENG) 11-4, 11-8, 11-4 (51m)
3 Amr Shabana (EGY) bt 12 Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 (43m)
5 Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 11-5, 11-7, 11-4 (43m)
7 Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt 10 David Palmer (AUS) 11-7, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9 (69m)
4 Karim Darwish (EGY) bt 16 Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-5, 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6 (68m)
6 James Willstrop (ENG) bt 11 Wael El Hindi (EGY) 11-7, 11-2, 4-11, 11-1 (50m)
2 Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt 14 Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-2, 11-8, 11-4 (30m)
Mens Quarter-final line-up:
1 Nick Matthew (ENG) v 8 Peter Barker (ENG)
3 Amr Shabana (EGY) v 5 Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
4 Karim Darwish (EGY) v 7 Thierry Lincou (FRA)
2 Ramy Ashour (EGY) v 6 James Willstrop (ENG)
Womens 2nd round:
1 Nicol David (MAS) bt 16 Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9 (42m)
7 Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) 11-3, 11-6, 11-0 (19m)
3 Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt 9 Camille Serme (FRA) 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 (30m)
6 Madeline Perry (IRL) bt 10 Engy Kheirallah (EGY) 11-7, 12-10, 11-1 (35m)
5 Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt 13 Annie Au (HKG) 11-9, 1-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-5 (41m)
4 Alison Waters (ENG) bt 11 Samantha Teran (MEX) w/o
8 Kasey Brown (AUS) bt 15 Donna Urquhart (AUS) 7-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-6 (49m)
2 Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt 12 Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 11-7, 11-9, 11-6 (38m)
Womens Quarter-final line-up:
1 Nicol David (MAS) v 7 Laura Massaro (ENG)
3 Rachael Grinham (AUS) v 6 Madeline Perry (IRL)
4 Alison Waters (ENG) v 5 Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
2 Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v 8 Kasey Brown (AUS)