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Champion Nick Matthew reaches Commonwealth Games squash final Champion Nick Matthew reaches Commonwealth Games squash final
(about 1 hour later)
Nick Matthew moved one step away from retaining his Commonwealth Games gold medal as he powered past his England team-mate Peter Barker at Scotstoun to reach the singles final.Nick Matthew moved one step away from retaining his Commonwealth Games gold medal as he powered past his England team-mate Peter Barker at Scotstoun to reach the singles final.
The three-times world champion from Sheffield will go for another title on Monday, five weeks after undergoing knee surgery that cast doubt over whether he would be fit to compete. The 34-year-old defeated Barker 11-3, 13-11, 11-6 to guarantee at least silver. He faces another English player, James Willstrop, in the final after Willstrop beat India’s Saurav Ghosal 11-8, 11-8, 11-5. The three-times world champion from Sheffield will go for another title on Monday, five weeks after undergoing knee surgery that cast doubt over whether he would be fit to compete. The 34-year-old beat Barker 11-3, 13-11, 11-6 and faces another English player, James Willstrop, in the final after Willstrop beat India’s Saurav Ghosal 11-8, 11-8, 11-5. It is the same final as four years ago in Delhi.
“I couldn’t have wished for any more, to be honest,” Matthew, a close friend of Jessica Ennis-Hill, said. “A few weeks ago I would have signed a million pieces of paper for that. I need to enjoy it and then really refocus ahead of the final. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would feel as good as I do with the knee, and I can’t get carried away. I feel as good as I ever have, which is testament to the guys that work with me.” “A few weeks ago I would have signed a million pieces of paper for that,” Matthew said after his semi-final. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would feel as good as I do with the knee. I feel as good as I ever have, which is testament to the guys that work with me.”
Barker, 30, offered gripes about the refereeing and the mopping of the court. “Reffing and mopping is not good enough and hasn’t been for a long time,” he said. “They’re doing their best, but until they’re professional like we are, the standard is not going to go up.Barker, 30, offered gripes about the refereeing and the mopping of the court. “Reffing and mopping is not good enough and hasn’t been for a long time,” he said. “They’re doing their best, but until they’re professional like we are, the standard is not going to go up.
“All credit to Nick. He didn’t let me play well and then there were – in my opinion – a couple of poor calls by the ref. That’s the difference between winning and losing the game.”“All credit to Nick. He didn’t let me play well and then there were – in my opinion – a couple of poor calls by the ref. That’s the difference between winning and losing the game.”