It took 32 minutes and 26 points, but #8 seed Nick Matthew (ENG) has gone up 1-0 on the #4 seed Gregory Gaultier (FRA) by a first-game score of 14-12. Matthew went up 4-0 and 8-6, then got to 9-8 when Gaultier tinned a forehand after an extended rally. A backhand error from the Frenchman gave Matthew two game balls at 10-8. Gaultier got to 10-all when the Englishman came up short on a backhand drop. Then it was 11-all after a lengthy exchange went to the French no. 1.
Things then got frosty on the following point when Matthew's appeal for a let was denied, and the players appeared to gesture to one another as the gamesmanship commenced. A couple of breathless side-to-side rallies later, Gaultier was unable to come up with an answer for a chipped backhand drop from Matthew, and the Englishman has taken an early 1-0 lead.
#3 Ramy Ashour (EGY) awaits the winner of this match in Saturday afternoon's final.
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