New Zealand’s Paul Coll celebrates victory over World No.1 Mostafa Asal to win the Qatar Classic.
Photo: PSA
New Zealand squash star and world No.3 Paul Coll has won his first major PSA title in almost two years.
He’s won the Qatar Classic, beating Egyptian and world No.1 Mostafa Asal in four games, 11-9 6-11 11-8 11-5.
Coll, 33, entered the match as the firm underdog, after losing his previous six matches against Asal and a shock defeat to world No.252 Adam Hawal at the CIB Egyptian Open last month.
He was back to his best at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, executing an exceptional all-round performance, which saw him play high up the court and chase volleys as much as possible to keep Asal in the backcourt and stop him putting in one of his trademark powerhouse performances up front.
‘The Raging Bull’ threatened a shift in momentum, after winning the second game, but Coll’s accuracy and courtcraft were near perfect, as he pulled away to secure his 30th PSA title and first since winning the London Classic early last month.
“I was on top of the world in London and then probably one of the darkest I’ve ever been after [the loss to Hawal],” Coll said.
“I went back home and punished myself. I went back to my roots and did court sprints – a lot of work went into this and I’m absolutely stoked.
“I told myself to stay in front of the ‘T’, not behind it, because I knew he was going short. I had to get up the court and had to counter everything.
“If he went ahead of me, he could spark up, so I wasn’t switching off.
“It felt uncomfortable. I said to Rob [Owen, Coll’s coach] that I get stuck down the backhand side and I can’t inject any pace in the game, he [Asal] just controls me.
“He told me to get up the court and volley. He’s so good, it’s unbelievable how he can whip those kills in.
“I had to make it all about me today. It’s a long time [since winning a major], so I’m stoked.”
Coll’s last major PSA title was the Hong Kong Open in December 2023.
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