[4] Paul Coll -05- (NZL) def [14] Zahed Salem -16- (EGY)
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check-circle”] Quarterfinal Score: 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (47m)
Match recap from Squash Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the 2019 PSA Mens World Championship.
This was a decent Quarterfinal between two athletic talents who both faced grueling challenges in the Round of 16. Sure, it was only a 3-game affair, but Salem played high-level squash against a top-5 opponent with greater experience in the latter rounds of Majors.
Last night, Coll endured a 119-minute prize fight with 2015 Finalist Omar Mossad. In boxing terms, considering the volume of video referee “intervention,” Paul’s win was essentially a split decision in a deciding game tiebreak. Meanwhile, surging Salem found himself in the Quarters of the World Championship for the first time, securing a 74-minute, top-10 win over Miguel Rodriguez.
Superman’s intense off-season cross-training served him well. Flipping tires and continually testing his own endurance gives Coll the ability to summon a higher gear. It made all the difference against another phenomenally fit opponent, who spilled gallons of mental and physical energy to get here.
To snatch the win in under an hour is a good sign for one of the most athletic and flexible talents on Tour. Through to his first World Championship Semifinal — better still, Coll won’t have to go through top-seed Mohamed Elshorbagy to contest the title. Brother Marwan eliminated that road block.
This World Championship is taking promising shape for New Zealand’s greatest.
Paul Coll remains undefeated versus Zahed Salem
► Nov 2019 | Coll def Salem | QF World Championship – Score: 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (47m)
► Sep 2019 | Coll def Salem | SF Open de France – Score: 11-9, 11-5, 11-8 (39m)
► Jan 2018 | Coll def Salem | R1 Tournament of Champions – Score: 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (44m)
► Sep 2017 | Coll def Salem | R1 China Open – Score: 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 (30m)
► Apr 2017 | Coll def Salem | R1 Houston Open – Score: 11-7, 11-9, 11-9
► Mar 2016 | Coll def Salem | QL Windy City Open – Score: 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5 (64m)
Announcer Corner | Player Introductions
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[4] Paul Coll -05- (NZL)
Few players soar through the air like New Zealand’s top-talent. His determined dives and relentless acrobatics have earned him the nickname, Superman – and that athleticism and will-to-win was on full-display during his Round-of-16 clash with Omar Mosaad last night. In 119-minutes of physical squash, he overcame the Hammer of Thor to reach the World Championship Quarterfinals for the 3rd successive season. Now a 4-time Platinum Semifinalist, he owns 14 PSA titles, is a 19-time Finalist, and is back in Doha with a career-high ranking of World #5. From New Zealand – This is Superman Paul Coll.
► Paul Coll came into the World Championships after reaching his 4th Platinum Semifinal at the Egyptian Open (fell to Champion Ali Farag)
► He was a Quarterfinalist at every Major last year, including Semifinal-runs at the US, Black Ball, and British Opens
▲ R3 — def [12] Omar Mosaad -15- (EGY) | Score: 9-11, 14-12, 11-9, 6-11, 16-14 (119m)
▲ R2 — def Borja Golan -34- (ESP) | Score: 11-7, 11-4, 11-8 (40m)
▲ R1 — def [WC] Hamad Al-Amri -287- (QAT) | Score: 11-4, 11-4, 11-3 (20m)
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[14] Zahed Salem -16- (EGY)
The 14-seed at this year’s PSA World Championship – 5-years-ago, he won his first career World Championship match right here in Doha. Today, he’s into the Quarterfinals for the first time. He started his World Championship campaign with wins over Yip Tsz Fung and surging Egyptian 18-year-old Mostafa Asal – before winning a tremendous, 74-minute, 4-game clash with World #9 Miguel Rodriguez. Ranked as high as World #14 – Overall he owns 5 PSA titles, is an 18-time Finalist on Tour, and this season – has earned his first career victories over top-talents like James Willstrop and Marwan Elshorbagy. From Egypt – He is Zahed Salem.
► Zahed Salm started last season as the World #31, and ended his 2018-19 campaign as the World #14.
► This season, Salem defeated James Willstrop for the first time in Nantes – and earned his first win over Marwan Elshorbagy in Philadelphia to reach the US Open’s Round of 16.
► Zahed’s only hiccup this season happened at the Egyptian Open, where he lost his opening match to Victor Crouin.
▲ R3 — def [8] Miguel Rodriguez -09- (COL) | Score: 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 (74m)
▲ R2 — def Mostafa Asal -23- (EGY) | Score: 11-8, 6-11, 11-2, 11-7 (58m)
▲ R1 — def Tsz Fung Yip -33- (HKG) | Score: 11-7, 3-11, 11-3, 11-6 (33m)
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