France's former world champion Gregory Gaultier will defend his El Gouna title in Egypt this week ©elgouna

Gregory Gaultier claims he is almost back to full fitness as he prepares to defend his title at the El Gouna International Squash Open on the banks of the Red Sea in Egypt.

France’s 35-year-old 2015 World Open champion returned to action last month after recovering from an ankle problem and a partial rupture of his adductor which caused him to lose his position at the top of the world rankings.

Gaultier made his return to action during last month's Grasshopper Cup where he reached the semi-finals and, 12 months on from beating Karim Abdel Gawad on the banks of Egypt’s Red Sea to become the first non-Egyptian winner, he is targeting a successful finish to the season in this Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Series event. 

"It’s the worst year I have ever had,” Gaultier said.

"I’ve had a lot of stoppages with tough injuries to come back from.

"I believe I can still win big things of course, but I need my body to feel right.

"I didn’t have the chance this year to turn up to any events being 100 per cent, it was a horrible feeling to always try to catch up with little preparation."

Gregory Gaultier, pictured winning the 2017 El Gouna title, will seek to retain it after returning from injury ©elgouna
Gregory Gaultier, pictured winning the 2017 El Gouna title, will seek to retain it after returning from injury ©elgouna

Gaultier’s title win at last year’s El Gouna International came during arguably his greatest ever spell of form as he dominated the PSA World Tour in the early stages of 2017, winning six successive PSA titles and becoming the sport’s oldest ever world number one in a period that also saw him go 27 matches unbeaten

"I’m on my way back and I am very careful with the little details, I want to play and compete for a few more years," he added.

"I will come back to El Gouna in decent shape and will be happy to play."

Gaultier, the number two seed, is due to get his 2018 El Gouna campaign underway against Egyptian shot-maker Mazen Hesham, and he is seeded to meet US Open champion Ali Farag - who overtook Gaultier as world number two earlier this month - in the semi-finals.

Egypt will supply the top seeds in both the men’s and women’s events, in the form of world number one players Mohamed Elshorbagy and Nour El Sherbini.

Sherbini, winner of the PSA World Championships final at this venue a year ago, is seeded fellow Egyptian she beat on that occasion, Raneem El Welily, in what will be the first women’s El Gouna International

The main tournament is scheduled to take place from tomorrow to April 27, with early matches being split between the glass court situated at El Gouna Marina and the main Squash Complex.