AP - England's Nick Matthew began his quest to beat Australian squash legend Geoff Hunt's long-standing record as the oldest winner of the World Open with a victory over German qualifier Raphael Kandra in Doha.
The 34-year-old world champion Matthew defeated Kandra 11-2 11-6 10-12 11-1, but unexpectedly allowed an opponent ranked outside the top 50 into the match in a curiously ragged third game.
"Sometimes when you start (a tournament), you lose accuracy - but it can be good if that happens," world No.3 Matthew said.
"It can give you a kick up this part of the body," he added indicating behind himself.
A World Open crown for Matthew would make him become the oldest winner of the tournament, eclipsing Hunt's record.
The Australian claimed the last of his four World Open titles in 1980, aged 33 years and six months, while becoming the oldest male world champion.
It is a record which has lasted 34 years.
Matthew compared his struggles against Kandra to that of Gregory Gaultier, the top-seeded Frenchman, who went two games down on Friday before surviving against Egyptian Andrew Wagih.
"Sometimes, if you get a bad start, you have some catching up to do," said Matthew, referring both to his own third game as well as Gaultier's first two games.
Matthew in 2014 became the first man successfully to defend a Commonwealth Games singles title, married and celebrated the birth of his first child.
"It can be a good or a bad thing, and I have to guard against it," he said. "If I keep focused and fresh, I can make it work to my advantage."
However, Matthew has to be wary of Mohamed El Shorbagy, the world No.1 from Egypt, who needed only 25 minutes to start his campaign with an 11-5 11-4 11-8 win over Asyraf Asan, a Malaysian qualifier.
El Shorbagy next plays Mahesh Mangaonkar of India on Monday. Matthew will face Gregoire Marche, the rising world No.29 from France, who might be glad of the day's rest after taking 99 minutes to dispose of Scotland's Alan Clyne in five games.
