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Gregory Gaultier Announces Retirement
France’s former World Champion and World No.1 Gregory Gaultier has
announced his immediate retirement from professional squash.
 Known
on tour as the ‘French General’, Epinal-born Gaultier was one of the
most charismatic players on the PSA World Tour and the 38-year-old spent
20 months at World No.1 between 2009-2018. He also holds the distinction
of being the sport’s oldest ever World No.1, last holding the coveted
ranking in February 2018 at the age of 35 years and two months.
Gaultier has been a regular contender for the sport’s biggest titles
throughout his 22-year career and reached five World Championship
finals. He ended a run of four straight World Championship final defeats
with an emotional victory over Egypt’s Omar Mosaad in 2015 in Bellevue,
United States which saw him become only the second Frenchman to taste
World Championship glory after Thierry Lincou in 2004.
Gaultier also had an affinity for the Allam British Open - the sport’s
longest-running tournament - which he won on three occasions, in 2007,
2014 and 2017. He remains the only Frenchman to win the ‘Wimbledon of
Squash’.
Prague-based Gaultier also won the PSA World Tour Finals three times, in
2008, 2009 and 2016.
Since making his PSA debut in 2000, Gaultier has lifted 44 PSA Tour
titles, reaching 83 finals, while he won 586 of his 758 matches on the
PSA Tour. Gaultier’s final PSA title came at the Czech Pro Series 1,
where he beat local player Jakub Solnicky in the final. His last major
PSA title win came at the 2017 El Gouna International, which came in the
midst of a run which saw him dominate the PSA World Tour and capture six
successive titles.
Gaultier’s efforts leave him fifth on the list of all-time PSA Tour
title winners, behind only Jansher Khan, Jahangir Khan, Mike Corren and
Peter Nicol. Gaultier also holds the men's all-time record for the most
matches played on the PSA Tour (since records began).
Away from the PSA Tour, Gaultier led France to two silver medals at the
WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championships and also won a gold medal at
the 2013 World Games in Cali.
Gaultier suffered a career-threatening knee injury in late 2018, which
required two surgeries to fix. After 15 months of gruelling rehab, he
made a sensational return at the 2020 J.P. Morgan Tournament of
Champions where, despite falling to No.543 in the world, the Frenchman
beat Mosaad once again to make a sensational return to the PSA Tour
against all the odds.
Gaultier’s final appearance on the PSA Tour came at the 2020-21 PSA
World Championships presented by the Walter Family where he exited to
Welshman Joel Makin in the last 32.
“After 22 years being on the PSA World Tour, today I have decided to
retire,” said Gaultier.
 “It
has been a long road with lots of fantastic and amusing moments and some
bumps on the way. As a kid, I wanted to be a professional squash player
and I feel very lucky to have done my passion as a job. I really enjoyed
all the hard work throughout these years to try to become the best
player I could possibly be.
“I’m fortunate to say that I achieved most of my squash career goals, of
course I would always want more, but at least I lifted some of the most
prestigious and beautiful trophies, bringing my childhood dreams to
fruition. The last three years were mentally and physically the toughest
by far, having a year off due to two knee surgeries was an unexpected
challenge to face and it was not the way I wanted to end my career.
“However, I’m still proud that I managed to play and compete again. I
will always take some comfort that I did all I possibly could to get
back to the top and I will always take it as a life experience.
“All of my accomplishments and multiple comebacks wouldn’t have been
possible without the help, belief and support of my family, friends,
coaches, physios, doctors, clubs, sponsors, the French Federation and
everyone else who was watching and cheering, so a huge thank you to all.
“The squash tour has given me the opportunity to discover different
countries, play some monumental matches in stunning places and live
unique moments with the incredible energy and support of the crowds. In
addition to meeting lots of wonderful people, who have become my
friends, it was a rich adventure overall. Today, I am almost 39 years
old and I felt the magical journey of squash pass so quickly.
"I didn’t really see the sands of time running out, so my advice to
anyone would be to appreciate what you have while you have it and
cherish every moment. If I could do it all over again, I would in a
heartbeat. I will miss competing on the tour, however I will always be
keeping an eagle eye on players’ performances.
“But for now, I must embrace the realms of reality and realise it's time
to close that chapter full of memories and move on. I will obviously
stay involved in the sport that brought me so much. One last thanks to
PSA, SQUASHTV, all the promoters and all the media for all of those
years and I truly hope the tour keeps growing. Thanks everyone, take
care, stay healthy and see you guys very soon and maybe on SQUASHTV.
“Au revoir from the ‘French General’.”
PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough paid tribute to Gaultier’s career,
saying: “Greg spent two decades competing at the highest level of
professional squash and is without a doubt one of the most charismatic
and popular characters the sport has ever seen.
“Greg will be remembered by those that played him as probably the
toughest player to breakdown on the court. His unwavering commitment,
incredible fitness and mental strength saw him break a number of the
sport’s long-standing records as well as break new ground for French
squash, while his emotional comeback last year after 15 months on the
sidelines made for one of the most heartwarming spectacles in squash in
recent years.
“I want to thank Greg for his contributions to the PSA Tour over the
past 22 years and on behalf of the PSA, I would like to wish him all the
best for the future.”
Gregory Gaultier: Career Stats
PSA Matches: 758
PSA Match Wins: 586
PSA Titles: 44
PSA Finals: 83
PSA Tournaments Played: 210
Months As No.1: 20
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