Top seed gaultier crashes out of canary wharf squash classic

This was competitive sport at its most brutal and spectacular. These two superb athletes twisted and turned to retrieve almost unplayable shots and delivered entertainment of the highest quality to a near-capacity crowd at the East Wintergarden.

The audience roared as Walker clinched the second game and Gaultier stared in disbelief at the giant screen mounted above the glass court as Walker matched his shot-making audacity.

Gaultier slowed down the pace in the third game and placed the ball with pinpoint accuracy as he regained his authority. However, Walker staged another massive recovery to win the fourth, continuing to chase down every ball and producing faultless finishing with exquisite drops and kills at the front of the court.

Gaultier looked to have the match sewn up as he advanced to a 6-3 lead in the fifth game but Walker found incredible reserves of courage and perseverance to claw his way back, point by point.

The match developed a physical dimension as both players hunted the ball down the backhand wall and there were frequent discussions with referee Jos Aarts following a series of collisions.

From 7-4 down, Walker produced a phenomenal sequence of controlled, attacking and aggressive squash to win seven points in a row to book his place in the quarter finals.

As the crowd erupted, Gaultier raced from the court, grabbed his bag and headed for the exit as a delirious Walker ran round the building on a lap of honour.

The 25-year-old, who was born in Botswana but is now based in Halifax, said: "That was my best result without a doubt. I have played well against the top guys on many, many occasions without getting the results. But I sensed that he was getting tired and I was determined to get every ball back."

Walker faces another French opponent, Renan Lavigne, in the quarter-finals and must fancy his chances of causing another upset against an opponent ranked just four places above him in the world.

Italy's Davide Bianchetti made a hot-foot exit from the ISS Canary Wharf Squash Classic after leaving his shoes back home in Brescia. Bianchetti wwas forced to borrow a pair from England's No.3 seed Peter Barker but was clearly unsettled as he lost to Australia's Cameron Pilley, 11-1, 11-1, 11-5. The No.7 seed powered his way through the opening two games and weathered a brief recovery from the Italian in the third to stroll through to tomorrow's quarter-finals and a clash with England’s Peter Barker.

(7) Cameron Pilley (Aus) bt Davide Bianchetti (Ita) 11-1, 11-1, 5-11 (32 mins)

No 4 seed Peter Barker eased past Essex team-mate Daryl Selby to reach tomorrow’s quarter-finals and a match-up with Australian Cameron Pilley. Barker was always in front but Selby competed ferociously despite having his left ankle strapped. One rally of more than 100 shots had the audience spellbound but ended in a let. Barker started strongly in each game and never looked in danger of surrendering his lead.

(4) Peter Barker (Eng) bt Daryl Selby (Eng) 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 (46 mins)

Renan Lavigne regained some lost pride for France by beating South African No.1 Jesse Engelbrecht. Lavigne, the No.8 seed, had too much court craft and experience and won 11-8, 11-10 (2-0), 9-11, 11-8 in 54 minutes. Engelbrecht battled hard throughout and was delighted to have taken the third game. Lavigne will now go in search of revenge for his compatriot Gaultier as he faces Alister Walker in the last eight.

(8) Renan Lavigne (Fra) bt(Q) Jesse Engelbrecht (RSA) 11-8, 11-10 (2-0), 9-11, 11-8 (54 mins)

Quarter-final line-up (to be played on Wednesday, March 12):

5.30pm: Joey Barrington (Eng) v (3) Lee Beachill (Eng)

6.30pm: (2) James Willstrop (Eng) v (6) Alex Gough (Wales)

8pm: (Q) Alister Walker (Eng) v (8) Renan Lavigne (Fra)

9pm: (4) Peter Barker (Eng) v (7) Cameron Pilley (Aus)

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk