Gregory Gaultier
Encyclopedia
Grégory Gaultier
Grégory Gaultier (born 23 December 1982, in Épinal
, France
) is a professional squash
player from France. He won the British Open
in 2007, and finished runner-up at the World Open in 2006 and 2007.
Gaultier is affectionately known to his friends as Rubbery Gaultier
At the 2007 British Open, Gaultier defeated his fellow Frenchman Thierry Lincou
in the final 11–4, 10–11 (0–2), 11–6, 11–3.
At the 2006 World Open, Gaultier defeated World No. 1 and defending-champion Amr Shabana
in the semi-finals, before losing in five games in the final to David Palmer
11–9, 11–9, 9–11, 10–11 (4–6), 2–11. In 2007, Gaultier again reached the World Open final, losing 7–11, 4–11, 6–11 to Shabana.
In 2003, Gaultier was a member of the French team which finished runners-up to Australia
at the World Team Squash Championships
. In the semi-finals against England
, Gaultier won the deciding match against Lee Beachill
which took France through to the final.
At the 2009 Tournament of Champions
, Gaultier defeated the world No.1 Karim Darwish
in the semifinal, and beats Nick Matthew
in the final with a score 11–9, (2–11), 11–8, 11–4. He is the only Frenchman to have won the title.
Gaultier was the European junior squash champion in 2000 and 2001. He also won a British Junior Open title and finished as the runner-up at the world junior championships. Gaultier moved to the top of the world ranking on November 2009, a feat achieved after losing in the final of the Hong Kong Open a month earlier. In 2009 he became the second French player to become world no 1.
Grégory Gaultier (born 23 December 1982, in Épinal
Épinal
Épinal is a commune in northeastern France and the capital of the Vosges department. Inhabitants are known as Spinaliens.-Geography:The commune has a land area of 59.24 km²...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is a professional squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
player from France. He won the British Open
British Open Squash Championships
The British Open Squash Championships is the oldest and most established tournament in the game of squash. It is widely considered to be one of the two most prestigious tournaments in the game, alongside the World Open The British...
in 2007, and finished runner-up at the World Open in 2006 and 2007.
Gaultier is affectionately known to his friends as Rubbery Gaultier
At the 2007 British Open, Gaultier defeated his fellow Frenchman Thierry Lincou
Thierry Lincou
Thierry Lincou is a professional squash player from France. He reached the World No. 1 ranking in January 2004...
in the final 11–4, 10–11 (0–2), 11–6, 11–3.
At the 2006 World Open, Gaultier defeated World No. 1 and defending-champion Amr Shabana
Amr Shabana
Amr Shabana is a professional squash player from Egypt. He won the World Open in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009, and reached the World No. 1 ranking in 2006.-Career overview:...
in the semi-finals, before losing in five games in the final to David Palmer
David Palmer (squash player)
David Palmer is a professional squash player from Australia. He won the Super Series finals in 2002, the World Open in 2002 and 2006; the British Open in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2008; and the Australian Open in 2008. He attained World No...
11–9, 11–9, 9–11, 10–11 (4–6), 2–11. In 2007, Gaultier again reached the World Open final, losing 7–11, 4–11, 6–11 to Shabana.
In 2003, Gaultier was a member of the French team which finished runners-up to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at the World Team Squash Championships
World Team Squash Championships
The World Team Squash Championships are an international squash competition played between teams representing different nations. Countries enter teams of three or four players to represent them in the championships. In each round of the competition, teams face each other in a best-of-three singles...
. In the semi-finals against England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Gaultier won the deciding match against Lee Beachill
Lee Beachill
Lee Beachill is a former World No. 1 squash player from England.Beachill reached the World No. 1 ranking in October 2004. He also finished runner-up at the World Open that year....
which took France through to the final.
At the 2009 Tournament of Champions
Tournament of Champions (squash)
The Tournament of Champions is an annual international squash championship held in New York City. In recent years, the event has been held at New York's Grand Central Terminal, in a specially-constructed four-walled glass court in the Vanderbilt Hall....
, Gaultier defeated the world No.1 Karim Darwish
Karim Darwish
Karim Darwish is a squash player from Egypt.-Career:Earlier in 2008, Darwish finished runner-up at the World Open, losing in the final to fellow Egyptian player Ramy Ashour...
in the semifinal, and beats Nick Matthew
Nick Matthew
Nicholas Matthew is a professional squash player from England who won the British Open in 2006 and 2009 and is the reigning World Champion. He reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 1 in June 2010...
in the final with a score 11–9, (2–11), 11–8, 11–4. He is the only Frenchman to have won the title.
Gaultier was the European junior squash champion in 2000 and 2001. He also won a British Junior Open title and finished as the runner-up at the world junior championships. Gaultier moved to the top of the world ranking on November 2009, a feat achieved after losing in the final of the Hong Kong Open a month earlier. In 2009 he became the second French player to become world no 1.