The New Zealand squash player Paul Coll has overturned a poor career record to beat four-time defending champion Mohamed El Shorbagy and reach the British Open final in Hull.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Coll had won just one of his 10 previous matches against the Egyptain but trounced his opponent 3-0.
Coll turned the form book on its head with a masterful display for a 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 victory in 31 minutes.
The 29-year-old from Greymouth took the first game 11-8 and the second 11-7 in just seven minutes, with ElShorbagy who lacked movement at times and made too many errors against Coll’s tough defence.
ElShorbagy initially came back well in the third, seizing a 5-4 lead at the end of a brutal 34-shot rally, after taking quick points earlier in the game.
However Coll kept retrieving and putting the pressure back on his opponent who eventually struggled to hit winners.
The Egyptian couldn’t find a way through Coll who took full advantage, claiming seven-consecutive points to seal a memorable win.
“I knew I had to get my start right this time. The last three times, he’s flogged me in the first set and it just hasn’t been good enough for my standards. But that’s the kind of calibre player he is, he can take a game away from you in a matter of seconds. That’s why I got so edgy in the last one, I knew he was trying to win quick points. With his skill and intensity it can happen very quickly,” said Coll who became just the second New Zealand male ever to make the British Open final.
It was Ross Norman in 1986 who was the previous Kiwi (lost to Jahangir Khan in the final).
“[I’m particularly happy with] my general play and my accuracy. I was working with my coach, Rob Owen, last week to get more racket speed going, take the ball earlier but keep my accuracy. To be honest 70 percent of the stuff we were doing was focused on this match. He’s got me in the last three tournaments, so a lot of the stuff was focused on Mohamed and trying to stuck into him a bit more, because I haven’t been happy with the last three performances against him.”
On what he should be wary of against Ali Farag in the final, Coll said: “Everything! He’s World Champion twice, World No.1 for a long time now, except for this month. There’s not really any area of his game that’s super weak. The last time we were on this court [in the 2019 semifinal, in which Farag beat Coll 3-2] it was a huge battle and I hope he’s ready for another one because it’s not going to be easy!”
His record against Ali Farag isn’t wonderful with the world champion player leading 13-1 in their head-to-heads. However Coll has now proven records are made to be broken.
“Everyone back in New Zealand is in lockdown, getting up at four AM and one AM to watch me, so huge thanks guys! One more push tomorrow but we can do it.
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