What's been happening in the world of squash (5th to 11th of December 2016)

Superman takes off in St George's Hill

What a breakthrough for Paul Coll! The New Zealander – nicknamed Superman for his amazing fitness and his spectacular dives – had been challenging the top players for some time now, but his biggest title so far remained the Australian Open 2015 (PSA $28,750) and it's only recently that he got to the top 16 of a World Series event (at the US Open). After getting through the qualifications at the Channel VAS St George's Hill Classic, Coll started his dream week against Max Lee (world number 18), winning in 5 games after being 2-1 down. He reproduced the same scenario against Miguel Angel Rodriguez (#13), coming out as the victor after 102 minutes. He still wasn't the favourite in the semis against Daryl Selby, who'd beaten world number 1 Mohamed El Shorbagy earlier. But he showed that he isn't only a physical machine, putting the ball away at the front on numerous occasions and winning in 4 games in less than an hour. The final was a repeat of a gargantous match that Tarek Momen (#11) had won at the US Open, 17-15 in the fifth. But his previous wins had obviously boosted Coll's confidence and after saving a couple of game balls in the second game, he dispatched the Egyptian in 3 games. The Kiwi rushed off court to share his joy with his girlfriend Nele Gilis, who had also just won the biggest title of her career in France (see below). “She always tells me I can be world number 1. She might be right,” he said laughing during his post-match interview. In the meantime, this result will take him to the top 20 in 2017, and therefore to the main draw of the World Series events. Coll and Gilis won't mind using some of their prize money to change their flights, since they were supposed to leave to New Zealand on Monday … That was before Superman decided to take off!

Photo credits: squashsite

Around the world

No doubt that it is the first time in Belgian squash history that two of its players have won a tournament in the same week! In Clermont-Ferrand, France, 20 year-old Nele Gilis won the Open International des Volcans ($10, 000), her biggest title so far. In the final, she beat New-Zealander Amanda Landers-Murphy in 4 games. Jan Van den Herrewegen retained his title in the Sutton Coldfield International (PSA $5,000). He recovered from a 2-game deficit in the final against Englishman Michael Harris, to win in 5 games and 71 minutes. --- Two players won their maiden title in PSA last week: 20 year-from France Auguste Dussourd (picture below) had already played 4 finals on the tour, but had lost them all so far. He turned his fortune in Tehran, Iran, defeating seed number 1 Tayyab Aslam (70 places above him the world rankings) in the final, after five hard-fought games. Dussourd has the opportunity to go for back-to-back titles this week in Avhaz. The wait was for much longer for Adam Murrills. Almost ten years after his debut in PSA, the man from Manchester finally won his first title in Grimsby. He took his revenge against New-Zealander Evan Williams who'd beaten him in two of the five finals he'd lost in 2016. Murrills will break into the top 100 in the next rankings, for the first time at 26 years old. --- Across the Atlantic, Egypt's Kanzy El Dafrawy won her third title in 5 weeks in Tuxedo, New York, not dropping a game along the way. Welsh number 1 Peter Creed won the biggest trophy of his career in Boca Raton, Florida. He was dominant all week, his toughest opponent being Angus Gillams in the final (beaten in 4 games).

Photo credit: Pôle France Crétei