Coll stages comeback to reach US Open final
New Zealand squash pro Paul Coll has reached the final of the US Open in Philadelphia, but only after staging a big comeback over Egypt’s Aly Abou Eleinen
The World No.2 from Greymouth recovered from two games down to book his place in a fourth US Open final.
LATEST HEADLINES:
Eleinen started the stronger of the pair, his shot selection, movement and accuracy too good for the Kiwi in the opener. The Egyptian hit seven winners to Coll’s three on his way to taking the first game comfortably 11-6.
Coll began to find his rhythm in the second, but was left with plenty of work to do after Abou Eleinen raced out to an 8-1 lead. The Kiwi refused to give in and pushed his opponent all the way, before the Egyptian closed it out 11-9.
The third looked to be heading the same way, with Abou Eleinen ahead for much of the game. However, Coll’s trademark fitness started to pay off as he took six unanswered points to go from 8-5 down to win the game 11-8 and halve the deficit.
With momentum now firmly on his side, Coll took control of the contest, winning the fourth 11-6 and the fifth 11-3 to complete the comeback in 93 minutes.
“There’s a lot of belief in myself. I spoke to Ali Farag [former World No.1] last week and he gave me some great advice in terms of believing in myself, and I carried that into this week,” said Coll.
“My squash wasn’t there, my body wasn’t there in the first two games, but I back my fitness any day of the week against anyone on the tour. I’m happy I believed in myself and got going in the last three.
“It’s great to be in the final, but the job is far from done. I’ll recover tonight and come back tomorrow.”
Coll will face World No.3 Diego Elias in tomorrow’s final. Elias who beat top-ranked Mostafa Asal leads the head-to-head between the pair with 12 wins to nine.
