Narrator Andy Taylor | The Voice of the Qatar Classic | Photo: Steve Cubbins
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[7] Paul Coll -08- (NZL) def Cesar Salazar -25- (MEX)
Match recap from Squash Narrator Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Classic.
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check-circle”] Round-2 Final: 13-15, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 (53m)
Tough opening test for World #8 and US Open Semifinalist Paul Coll, who enjoyed a 1st-Round Bye yesterday.
Mexico’s Cesar Salazar earned a huge win this Summer over Miguel Angel Rodriguez, lifting Mexico to Pan American Gold in the Team Championships. Last week at the Chicago Open, he reached his 16th career Final. Yesterday, Cesar delivered a 57-minute deciding-game victory over Peter Creed. He’s spent a lot of time on court over the past two weeks. After taking game-1 in a tiebreak, Salazar had no Kryptonite left for Superman.
This was the second Tour-level meeting between Coll and Salazar. Back in May, they faced off in the Quarterfinals of the Internacional Sporta Open in Guatemala. Paul Coll earned the victory in three games.
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] May 18 – Internacional Sporta Open (QF) – Paul Coll 11-8, 11-1, 11-2 (31m)
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check”] Feb 17 – Canada’s Cambridge Cup (R1) – Paul Coll 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 | non PSA
Here’s a look at each player’s introduction for today’s Round-2 match…
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[8] Paul Coll -08- (NZL)
At 26-years-old, this 4-time New Zealand Nationals champion returns to Doha with a career-high ranking of World #8…and HE HAS BEEN ON A TEAR.
He started the new season by reaching his 16th career Tour-level Final, defeating World #5 Simon Rösner to reach the championship match in Shanghai. He then took-down World #4 Tarek Momen at the US Open and became a PSA Platinum-level Semifinalist for the first time. 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 3rd Qatar Classic Squash Championship – From New Zealand, please welcome the #8 Player in the World – Paul “Superman” Coll.
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-chevron-up”] R1 Bye
Cesar Salazar -25- (MEX)
At 30-years-old, he comes into this year’s Qatar Classic after a fantastic week at the Chicago Open, where he reached his 16th career championship match. He started the new season back in July, winning individual Silver and Team Gold at the Central America & Caribbean Games; then went undefeated at the Pan American Team Championship, lifting his country to the Gold Medal with a 3-game victory over World #6 Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the Final Round.
To top it off, earlier this month he enjoyed a career-best run at the US Open, reaching the 3rd-Round of a PSA Platinum-level event for the first time. Ranked as high as World #17, he owns 6 PSA titles and is competing in his 3rd Qatar Classic Squash Championship – where yesterday, he came back down 2-games to 1 to defeat Peter Creed to reach today’s Round-2 match. From Mexico, please welcome the #25 player in the World – Cesar Salazar.
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-chevron-up”] R1 – def Peter Creed -53- (WAL) | Score: 7-11, 11-5, 5-11, 12-10, 11-8 (57m) | RECAP
