Paul Coll in action at the New Zealand Open in Christchurch. Photo: photosport
Leading local hope Paul Coll has powered through to the semi-finals at the New Zealand Open, but it was a different story for the women's top seed, who was ousted in Christchurch.
Coll overcame a stern test from fifth seed Sebastien Bonmalais, ultimately winning 11-8, 11-6, 12-10 in 49 minutes to set up a showdown with another Frenchman - Baptiste Masotti - on Saturday night at the Isaac Theatre Royal.
World number four Coll had never dropped a game to Bonmalais on the PSA Squash Tour, and had to work hard to maintain that record.
Coll faced a resurgent Bonmalais in the third, who pushed the home favourite all the way to the wire and had three game balls, none of which were converted.
"I'm very happy with that," Coll said.
"It was a high-paced game. Seb's extremely quick across the court and on the volley. And in the third game the ball dropped off and it was bloody hard to get it past him, so I'm very happy with how I dug in and closed it out."
The second men's semi will pit Egyptian second seed Marwan ElShorbagy against Malaysian third seed Eain Yow Ng.
Earlier, women's top seed and world number five Tinne Gilis suffered a shock loss to Egypt's Salma Hany, who lost the first two games before storming home 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9.
"I'm very, very proud of how I fought today," Hany said.
"Tinne was playing really good and it's always very tough with her, and I've never beaten her before. And to be able to come back after 0-2 against such a great player is definitely something I'm very proud of."
Seventh-seeded Hany, who had lost her three previous matches against Gilis, will next face Japanese number six seed Satomi Watanabe in the semi-finals.
The other semi-final will be contested by Egyptians Amina Orfi and Rowan Elaraby, after they both overcame Malaysian opponents.
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