Shocks as Canary Wharf squash starts

The East Wintergarden crowd was treated to an epic game, lasting 90 minutes, which was tinged with controversy when El Shorbagy gave Matthew a dead leg as he saved a matchball in the fourth game.

With Matthew leading 2-1 at that stage he looked set to tie up the match but El Shorbagy fought back to level on a tie break.

The world junior champion then stunned Matthew by taking the deciding game 11-9.

Matthew was philosophical about the defeat.

He said: "I was asked if I wanted an injury break when he dead-legged me but I knew if I stopped that it would just seize up, so I decided to play on.

"I am not using that as an excuse because he played very well."

"I have enjoyed a great run recently and it had to come to an end at some time, but when all is said and done I did not play well enough to win the match when I had the opportunity."

El Shorbagy will now face compatriot Amr Shabana in the quarter finals tomorrow.

Shabana, the former world number one and top seed for this tournament, cruised through his match against Davide Bianchetti 11-7, 11-8, 12-10 in just 36 minutes.

Another former world champion, Thierry Lincou, did less well.

Lincou, who won the Canary Wharf title in 2005, looked jaded as he slid to defeat against Spain's Borja Golan.

The Frenchman let a two game lead slip as he tired and lost 9-11, 4-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-4.

Defending champion James Willstrop had no such problems, easing through 11-6, 1-7, 13-11 against qualifier Alister Walker.

The tournament continues tonight when local player Peter Barker gets the action underway at 5.30pm.

Tickets are still available from canarywharfsquash.com.