Gregory Gaultier ‘feeling close to my best’ ahead of tilt at PSA Dubai World Series Final title

Gregory Gaultier arrives in Dubai confident of his chances despite a lengthy injury layoff. Jason Cairnduff / Reuters

DUBAI // Making his way back from a “nasty” ankle injury, reigning world champion Gregory Gaultier has said he will not be short of confidence as he bids for his third PSA World Series Finals title.

One of the most combative players on the circuit and known for his imposing physical style, Gaultier, 33, won the world championship last November after previously losing four finals, but the Frenchman tore a ligament in his right ankle in January and was forced to spend the following two months on the sidelines.

“For two months I had no tournaments, for eight weeks no squash,” said Gaultier, who won the World Series Finals in 2008 and 2009, and has twice finished runner-up. “But I did a lot of gym and a lot of rehab to come back.”

Before coming to Dubai for the Finals, he managed to play three tournaments and Gaultier has said he is close to his peak form.

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“At the beginning, when you stop for a while, you struggle to adjust things, to see the ball, to react,” he said. “You lose all these things because you have not played for a long time. But now it’s all good. I am feeling close to my best and I feel happy to be in a decent shape for the big one.”

Ranked No 2 in the world behind Egyptian Mohamed ElShorbagy, Gaultier said he is itching for the action to start, and though he described the best-of-three format for the pool matches as “tricky” he sees no reason why he cannot reach the semis.

“I have always qualified for the semis, whether it’s best-of-three or best-of-five, so I don’t know why I shouldn’t qualify here,” said Gaultier, who will be battling with the man he beat in the world championship final in November, Egypt’s Omar Mosaad, Simon Rosner of Germany and Cameron Pilley of Austria in Group B for the two semi-final spots.

“I have won this tournament twice. I have made a few finals as well, so I have a lot of belief in myself,” Gaultier said. “I have been world No 1 four times. I have been world champion, so if a world champion does not believe in himself, there is a problem somewhere.”

ElShorbaghy is in Group A and will start his campaign against Gaultier’s compatriot Mathieu Castagnet, while Briton Nick Matthew, a three-time world champion, will meet Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the opening day’s other Group A match.

In the women’s section, world No 1 Nour El Sherbini will start her tournament against Egyptian compatriot Raneem El Welily in the day’s headline Group B game, while nine-time world champion Nicol David takes on Amanda Sobhy of the USA in Group A, while Briton world No 2 Laura Massaro opens her campaign against Nouran Gohar of Egypt.

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