New Zealand squash star Paul Coll is into the Qatar Classic open quarterfinals after a thrilling comeback.
Coll came back from 2-1 down against Frenchman Gregoire Marche to win 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5.
Marche troubled the Kiwi in Doha, with Coll out of sorts in the first game.
“He came out very aggressive and I was a bit passive in my hitting,” said Coll after the match.
“He actually didn’t miss much the first set, rolled a few. The second and third, I think, I made a few mistakes at the start of each which gave him a lead."
But the 28-year-old from Greymouth rallied back to reclaim control of the match.
He came into his own in the fourth before seeing out victory in the fifth in a clash that lasted nearly an hour and a half.
"In the fourth and fifth, I just wanted to cut those out because I was winning the back end of the games and I thought that if I got a lead at the start then I could hold that through each set.”
Coll faces Egypt's Marwan ElShorbagy for a place in the semis on Friday morning.
“It’s going to be tough against Marwan. The body is feeling fine. It was more of a mental battle today to get myself focused and cut out those mistakes.
"Energy wise, I will be fine tomorrow. He’s playing some of his best squash and has been very impressive, so it’s going to be a challenge. He pipped me in the last tournament, so I’d like to get my revenge.”
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