Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom - Mathieu Castagnet hailed the effect of France's breakthrough capture of the European team title in Denmark a week ago as he became an unexpected quarter-finalist in the British Open.
The 28-year-old from Aix-en-Provence had already got past the sixth seeded Englishman Peter Barker and now overcame Marwan El Shorbagy, the former world junior champion from Egypt, who had won both their previous two meetings.
"I'm very pleased with that. I wasn't prepared to win three-love. I think the European success has lifted us all," said Castagnet after his 11-6, 11-3, 11-4 success.
"I feel the best is still to come because at the age of 28 I have more experience. I don't go on court on fire, hitting shots anywhere!"
Far from it: Castagnet methodically hit straight, making the ball cling, denying El Shorbagy volleying opportunities, and making a big surge from 5-6 in the first game to a rapid five-point lead in the second.
By the end he was well on top, and ready to talk about the possibility of he and his French colleagues going further, especially with doubts surrounding the fitness of Nick Matthew, the three-time former British Open champion from England, who has an ankle problem.
First though Castagnet was preparing to go and watch his European title-winning team-mate Gregoire Marche take on Matthew in their second round match later in the day.
"Maybe there is a chance of two French semi-finalists," said Castagnet, who is due to face the winner of that encounter. "But whether it is Gregoire or whether it is me, I think there may be a chance opening up for France in this part of the draw."
If it does, one of them will reach the semi-finals of the British Open for the first time, even perhaps creating the certainty of a French finalist. The seeding say that another Aix man, Gregory Gaultier, the second-seeded British Open titleholder, should come through in the other place in the bottom half.
Earlier Nour El Sherbini, the Egyptian woman who became the youngest ever British Open finalist at the age of 16 three years ago, put her nightmare of last year further behind her by reaching the quarter-finals. El Sherbini did that with a 11-1, 11-8, 11-5 win over the South African qualifier, Syoli Waters.
AFP
