Australia's Cameron Pilley has been swept by top seed Gregory Gaultier, ending his dream of a maiden appearance in the World Open squash semi-finals in Doha.
Gaultier played with fierce efficiency to win 11-3 11-4 11-5 against the unseeded Pilley whose 213 minutes on court - the most of any quarter-finalist - appeared to be draining his energies.
Meanwhile, the long-standing record of legendary Australian Geoff Hunt as the oldest winner of the World Open remains under threat following 34-year-old Englishman Nick Matthew's victory over Amr Shabana on Wednesday.
Matthew kept alive his chances of defending the World Open title with an 11-3 12-10 11-7 success which will rate as one of his best performances against one of the all-time greats.
"You don't often beat Shabana in straight games, and that's really going to help me for the rest of the week," said Matthew after completing his victory in only 42 minutes.
"I'm really, really happy with that.
"He's an absolute legend and I'm over the moon to get a result like that and get off fresh for tomorrow."
Then Matthew will continue his attempt on a fourth world title at an age which is nine months older than Hunt, who has remained the oldest male world champion for 34 years.
But Matthew's task may be as hard as it gets.
His next opponent is Mohamed El Shorbagy, the 23-year-old world No.1 from Egypt, whose straight hitting and tight focus prevailed 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 against Stephen Coppinger, the first South African in the World Open quarter-finals since Roland Watson 35 years ago.
In the other semi-final Gaultier will play Ramy Ashour, the twice former world champion from Egypt.
