The pair met for the 34th time last month when Matthew registered an impressive straight-games win in the final of the British Grand Prix.

But Willstrop turned recent history on its head today, recovering from going 2-1 down in games to claim an 11-6, 7-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-4 victory, his first over Matthew since the 2007 English Open final.

"It's taken me a long time to notch that win against him, so I'm pleased," 33-year-old Willstrop said. 

"Last month I didn't play well against him and I was more disappointed with the performance than the result.

"I think the squash today was as good as it has ever been between us and we both played some very accurate stuff.

"I know what I'm capable of and I've been trying to work out the way to break him down for a long time.

"Today I did just enough to come through.

"And the best thing is I get to play here once again because I love being here at this event.

"To be out there and performing well in a good game of squash, it's just brilliant."

After the 73-minute match, Matthew, 36, said: "He deserved it - even when I was 2-1 up I didn't feel like I was on top.

"He was the aggressor today and I felt like I was chasing it.

"He's a class player and we've played some massive matches, so that win was coming some day.

"He's too good a player to have a record like that."

Willstrop will now face tournament surprise package Paul Coll for a place in the semi-finals after the 24-year-old qualifier reached the last eight of a PSA World Series tournament for the first time in his career with an unexpected win over world number seven Ali Farag of Egypt.

Coll, who became the first New Zealand player since 1995 to break the top 20 rankings after coming through qualification to claim the PSA M100 Channel Vas Championship in December, prevailed 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7 to extend his unbeaten streak on the PSA World Tour to 10 consecutive matches.

Also keeping his tournament alive was world champion Karim Abdel Gawad of Egypt, winning a five-game encounter with Australian Cameron Pilley 8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9. 

Victory sets up a meeting with Germany's Simon Rösner, who overcame Swiss qualifier Nicolas Mueller 11-6, 11-8, 11-6.

In the first round of the women's event, last year’s runner-up and home favourite Amanda Sobhy got her 2017 campaign off to a winning start by trouncing Australia's Donna Urquhart 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 in just 24 minutes.

Next up for her is a meeting with England’s Sarah-Jane Perry, an 11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8 victor at the expense of Egypt’s Mariam Metwally.

"It's great to be back here in New York at one of my favourite events - I love it here and just enjoy being out there in front of so many supporting fans," said Sobhy.

"It fuels me that I got to the final here last year and I want to do better. 

"I've also lost two World Series finals and they say three's the charm, so hopefully that'll be this week."