Kiwi Coll Claims Hat-trick at Australia Day Challenge

New Zealander Paul Coll has won the Australia Day Challenge, PSA Challenger 5 title for the third successive time after a brilliant come-from-behind victory over compatriot Evan Williams in final of the event which took place at Ipswich PCYC Squash Centre in Ipswich, Australia.

Unseeded Williams had stunned the field with his progress in the event, eliminating three seeded players en-route to the final including number two seed Matthew Hopkin and number four seed Kashif Shuja, and the World No.239 stormed into an unlikely lead in the final as he took the opening games 11-4 and 12-10.

Coll, who had never before beaten Williams, was in danger of succumbing to his first loss at this event since 2012 but he rallied and won the next two games to take control of the match.

With Coll well and truly in the ascendancy, Williams struggled to interrupt his rhythm and the 22-year-old from Christchurch stood firm to secure an 11-3 win in the final game and earn the title.

“It was a bit tougher than last year’s final, given I won last year 3/0, and this one went to five,” Coll said.

“I had never beaten him, I always find him tough to play. It’s good to finally get one over him, but I’m also really happy just to see him coming back from injury.”

Australian qualifier Matthew Karwalski also turned heads with an impressive run in the competition, with the former PSA-ranked player claiming scalps against number eight seed Darcy Evans and number three seed Joshua Larkin en-route to the semi-final.

His game against Evans showcased Karwalski’s experience as the 29-year-old’s intelligent court-craft enabled him to dominate the tee and claim a 3-0 win. He went a game down against Larkin before turning the tie on its head and earning a superb 3-1 victory to see the qualifier through to the semi-final before his run was ended by eventual winner Coll.

1st round:
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bye
Mithran Selvaratnam (MAS) bt [Q] Lachlan Coxsedge (AUS) 11-6, 11-1, 11-6
Solayman Nowrozi (AUS) bt [Q] Nicholas Calvert (AUS) 11-7, 11-4, 11-2
[7] Chris van der Salm (NZL) bt TJ French (AUS) 11-6, 11-8, 11-9
[Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bt [8] Darcy Evans (AUS) 11-5, 11-4, 11-3
Joseph White (AUS) bt [Q] Josh Foyle (AUS) 11-1, 11-9, 11-4
[Q] Bradley Freeme (AUS) bt Joel Luca (AUS) 12-10, 11-6, 11-9
[3] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bye
[4] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Rohan Toole (AUS) 11-6, 11-9, 11-4
Ben Takamizawa Harris (JPN) bt Taylor Horton (NZL) 11-8, 11-6, 12-14, 11-4
Dominique Ratcliffe (AUS) bt Jesse Keegan (AUS) 1-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9
[5] Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt [Q] Craig Rowland (AUS) w/o
[6] Thomas Calvert (AUS) bt [Q] William Mountford-Jones (AUS) 11-3, 11-1, 11-3
Evan Williams (NZL) bt Alex Eustace (AUS) 11-4, 11-3, 11-9
[Q] Jon van der Kreek (AUS) bt Jason van der Walt (NZL) 11-7, 11-8, 12-10
[2] Matthew Hopkin (AUS) bye

2nd round:
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Mithran Selvaratnam (MAS) 11-4, 11-3, 11-6 (25m)
[7] Chris van der Salm (NZL) bt Solayman Nowrozi (AUS) 11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 12-10 (45m)
[Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bt Joseph White (AUS) 12-10, 11-3, 11-2 (25m)
[3] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt [Q] Bradley Freeme (AUS) 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 (37m)
[4] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Ben Takamizawa Harris (JPN) 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5 (28m)
[5] Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt Dominique Ratcliffe (AUS) 11-4, 11-6, 13-11 (24m)
Evan Williams (NZL) bt [6] Thomas Calvert (AUS) 14-12, 11-9, 11-6 (40m)
[2] Matthew Hopkin (AUS) bt [Q] Jon van der Kreek (AUS) 11-0, 11-8, 11-4 (20m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [7] Chris van der Salm (NZL) 11-4, 11-9, 16-14 (46m)
[Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bt [3] Joshua Larkin (AUS) 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (45m)
[4] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt [5] Rhys Dowling (AUS) 11-7, 11-13, 11-4, 11-7 (45m)
Evan Williams (NZL) bt [2] Matthew Hopkin (AUS) 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (43m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS) 11-5, 11-9, 11-6 (33m)
Evan Williams (NZL) bt [4] Kashif Shuja (NZL) 7-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-8 (43m)

Final:
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Evan Williams (NZL) 4-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 (72m)

(Report by Sean Reuthe)