[4] Simon Rösner -05- (GER) def [7] Paul Coll -08- (NZL)
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check-circle”] Quarterfinal Score: 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 12-10 (63m)
Match recap from Squash Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Classic.
Last year, German Tree Chopper Simon Rösner reached his first career Platinum Semifinal after scoring massive upsets over World #2 Karim Abdel Gawad and World #6 Marwan Elshorbagy. He went on to capture his first Platinum title at the Tournament of Champions in New York’s Grand Central Terminal, defeating Gregory Gaultier in the Semi’s and Tarek Momen in the championship match.
His Doha run last year was the spark the German needed, fueling his belief that – even in his 30’s – he could hang with the game’s elite on the sport’s biggest stages.
Today, he let himself down in game-1 – but responded brilliantly against one of the toughest, most physical opponents on the PSA World Tour, “Superman” Paul Coll. Germany’s top-talent is back in the Qatar Classic Semifinals, where last year’s confidence-boost transformed his career trajectory.
Announcer Corner | How big is this victory for Rösner? Consider his history with Coll.
Since 2016, this was the 5th Tour-level meeting between Paul Coll and Simon Rösner. All four of their previous matches went an hour, or much longer. Before today, each won two of those battles – Simon Rösner in the 1st-Round of the 2016 and 17 Grasshopper Cup; Paul Coll at the 2017 Canary Wharf Classic and last month in the Semifinals of the China Open in Shanghai.
► Sep 2018 – China Open (SF) – Paul Coll | Score: 8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7 (90m)
► May 2017 – Grasshopper Cup (R1) – Simon Rösner | Score: 12-10, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5 (82m)
► Mar 2017 – Canary Wharf Classic (R1) – Paul Coll | Score: 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9 (116m)
► Apr 2016 – Grasshopper Cup (R1) – Simon Rösner | Score: 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 (60m)
Each player’s announcer introduction for today’s Quarterfinal match…
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[4] Simon Rösner -05- (GER)
Tonight, this 11-time German Nationals Champion and World Games Gold Medalist is competing in his 7th consecutive Platinum-level Quarterfinal, and 29th of his career. Earlier this month, with wins over Miguel Angel Rodriguez and Ali Farag, he reached his second Platinum Final at the US Open in Philadelphia. Last season, he enjoyed one of the most successful years of his career…and it all started right here in Doha.
At the 2017 Qatar Classic, he reached Semifinals of a Platinum event for the first time; and just 2-months later, captured his first Platinum Title at the Tournament of Champions in New York. By June, he climbed to a career-high ranking of World #5, and qualified for the PSA World Tour Finals for a 5th time, where he finished as a Semifinalist for the 2nd year in a row.
This season started with a Semifinal run in Shanghai, then he led his hometown Paderborn to a record 9th title at the European Club Championship, before battling through to the championship match at the US Open. Competing in his 8th Qatar Classic Squash Championship – From Germany, please welcome 2017 Semifinalist and the #5 Player in the World – The German Tree Chopper – Simon Rösner.
▲ R1 — def Tom Richards -30- (ENG) | Score: 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7 (45m) | RECAP
▲ R2 — def George Parker -49- (ENG) | Score: 11-3, 11-3, 11-5 (36m) | RECAP
▲ R1 — Bye
Announcer Corner | Simon Rösner’s Best Platinum runs to date:
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Oct 2018 (SF) – Qatar Classic
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Oct 2018 (F) – US Open
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Jun 2018 (SF) – PSA World Tour Finals
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Jan 2018 (W) – Tournament of Champions
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Oct 2017 (SF) – Qatar Classic
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Jun 2017 (SF) – PSA World Tour Finals
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[7] Paul Coll -08- (NZL)
Tonight, this 26-year-old, 4-time New Zealand Nationals champion is competing in his 3rd consecutive Platinum Quarterfinal. Earlier this month at the US Open, he reached the Semifinals of a Platinum event for the first time, defeating World #4 Tarek Momen in the Quarters, earning the victory in a 5th game tiebreak.
He’s back in Doha with a career-high ranking of World #8, and started the new season in September by reaching his 16th career Tour-level Final at the China Open in Shanghai. Last December, he earned a career-best run at the World Championship, making his debut appearance in the Final-8 of the sport’s most-prestigious event.
Competing in his 3th Qatar Classic Squash Championship, he defeated World #25 Cesar Salazar then Spanish legend Borja Golan to reach his 5th career Platinum Quarterfinal, and first here in Doha. From New Zealand, please welcome the #8 Player in the World – Paul “Superman” Coll.
▲ R3 — def Borja Golan -28- (ESP) | Score: 11-3, 12-10, 3-0 retired (26m) | RECAP
▲ R2 — def Cesar Salazar -25- (MEX) | Score: 13-15, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 (53m) | RECAP
▲ R1 — Bye
Announcer Corner | Paul Coll’s Best Platinum runs to date:
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Oct 2018 (QF) – Qatar Classic
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Oct 2018 (SF) – US Open
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] May 2018 (QF) – British Open
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Apr 2017 (QF) – El Gouna International
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Jan 2017 (QF) – Tournament of Champions
