R3: [4] Diego Elias (PER) 3-0 Gregoire Marche (FRA)

Greg : Unbelievable.

I’ve rarely had matches like this where you feel there’s absolutely ZERO solution. ZERO opening. He does everything right.

Honestly, I can’t find anything to fault him on. Sometimes it’s early, sometimes it’s late, even when he’s late, his wrist adjusts, and when you think you’ve dominated the rally, that you’re in front of him… he has all the answers, today at least.

I didn’t play that badly, except for the third game. But especially in the second, I felt like I could compete at times. But it’s unbelievable, honestly. I told him at the end that it was just too strong.

I’ve rarely felt like this after 15 years on the Tour. There were matches against Greg back in the day, or Shabana, where you feel there’s another level, but this, in terms of squash quality, length, he has it all.

He’s not a world champion for nothing.

Diego : “I’m just happy with the way I played. I’m getting used to the conditions. It’s very hot in there and I was getting a bit out of breath. But I just need to get used to it and I’m feeling very good.

“I have very good memories of this court where I had the biggest win of my career. I’m just trying to enjoy it. This season I’m trying to play as well as I can, enjoy my squash and hopefully get to World No.1 again.

“I’ve no idea why, but I’m enjoying running on that floor! I’m just enjoying it and am trying to have fun.

“No one likes to see a match end like that but there are new rules now and we just have to follow them. I didn’t have very good results against Tarek the last few times we played, so I just want to recover and be 100 percent ready.”