R2: Marche grinds out 3-2 over Pajares

Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-2 Iker Pajares (ESP) 11-5, 11-7, 10-12, 4-11, 11-1 (87m)

Two players with the style of squash, both loving to run, attack and retrieve, both with superb physical abilities, but maybe Iker just a bit short physically at the end of games. The Spanish played one of the best squash I saw him play, he kept attacking superbly but Gregoire had some much under the pedal, he kept pushing and pushing…

Greg lost a bit his head/mentally lost focus in the 4th, after losing the 3rd 12/10, but was totally in control in the last one, Iker paying for all the work produced…

Greg

“It was a tough match,

“I started well and the first two games were approximately the same kind of game. They were close until maybe 6-6 and then I pushed a bit more and I think physically I was a bit better and I took advantage of this. I was not really happy with my game, but I said I just have to win in anyway.

“I lost my focus in the third, I could have won, I think I was 10-8 up but it went to 10-10 – I had my chance but then he came back into it. We had a break in the fourth when he had a blood injury, so it was a bit slow.

“In the fifth I gave it a big push and then was able to win the match against a tough opponent.”