New Zealand Open 2022 – Semi Finals: Preview, Stats & How To Watch Live

We’re down to the final four in both the Barfoot & Thompson and the Robertson Lodges New Zealand Open draws as the Silver event finalists will be decided tonight in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Both top seeds and home favourites Paul Coll and Joelle King have progressed safely to the semi-final stage. They will be up against Belgium’s Tinne Gilis and Qatar’s Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi for spots in the final.

Two all-European battles complete the semi-final lineups as older Gilis sister, Nele, will be in action against Wales’ Tesni Evans, who scored another impressive win over No.2 seed Sarah-Jane Perry to advance. The final match of the night will be a repeat of the QTerminals Qatar Classic Final between England’s Mohamed ElShorbagy and France’s Victor Crouin, quality squash to be expected.

Play begins from 18:00 (GMT+13) and you can watch all four matches live on SQUASHTV. You can also keep up to date with the live scores here.

We will also have updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes content across our social media channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

Barfoot & Thompson New Zealand Open 2022: Semi finals – Order of play

Robertson Lodges New Zealand Open 2022: Semi finals – Order of play

Joelle King v Tinne Gilis

Top seed Joelle King and Belgium’s Tinne Gilis met for the first time on the PSA World Tour at the U.S. Open in Philadelphia last month, with King taking the win in convincing style, 3-0. Gilis looked to be carrying a slight injury on the day but looks strong and sharp in this event so far, especially in her quarter final match with Japan’s Satomi Watanabe.

King will be looking to continue her impressive form that she has maintained whilst being back on home soil and move into a final for the first time since April.

Our friends at SquashLevels have predicted a win likelihood of 80% for King in the opening encounter of the day and expect her to get the victory in four games.

Nele Gilis v Tesni Evans

The other women’s semi-final match up will be a repeat of the Open De France semi final between the eventual winer Nele Gilis and in-form Welshwoman Tesni Evans.

Gilis came out on top on that occasion in a 77-minute five-set encounter, coming back from 2-1 down. Evans is in great form however, beating England No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry in the last two tournaments to better her seeding position. A huge opportunity to make the Silver event final has presented itself for these two players, who will take advantage?

SquashLevels have unsurprisingly predicted another five-set classic between the two but have Gilis edging it in the fifth game, just like in Nantes.

Paul Coll v Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi

The first men’s semi-final will be between World No.2 Paul Coll and talented Qatari Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi.

Al Tamimi got the better of Coll in the most recent exchange between the two, at the Qatar No.1’s home tournament, the QTerminals Qatar Classic. Al Tamimi’s skill is undoubted and on his day, he is a test for any player in the world, but it is the consitency of the World No.28 that is his downfall.

Coll will be desperate to seek revenge from his Qatar Classic early exit and what better place to do it than on home soil. With the crowd behind him, is there any way through for Al Tamimi?

The guys at SquashLevel have predicted a comfortable revenge for the New Zealand No.1 and have only given Al Tamimi a 6% chance of victory with the Kiwi winning in straight games.

Victor Crouin v Mohamed ElShorbagy

The final match of semi-final day will be another all-European clash as France’s Victor Crouin will take on England No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy in a repeat of the QTerminals Qatar Classic final. ElShorbagy took that match 3-1 in Doha to claim the Platinum event title. Crouin comes into this match a lot fresher that when they last played and will be determined to take the match to ‘The Beast’ and bring his winning streak to an end.

ElShorbagy’s rediscovered form has seen him already lift two World Tour titles this season, the QTerminals Qatar Classic & the Oracle NetSuite Open, as well as being victorious in last weeks Nations Cup. The World No.5 is a man on a mission and will take some stopping in this event.

The SquashLevels team have another victory predicted for ElShorbagy but have the Frenchman taking one more game than he did last time and forcing the Englishman all the way to five games.