Paul Coll “enjoying his squash again” as he breaks down impressive first half of the season

New Zealand’s Paul Coll was one of the outstanding performers in the first half of the 2023/24 PSA World Tour season, winning two Platinum event titles, the New Zealand Open and recording a semi-final finish at the inaugural Paris Squash 2023.

Coll hadn’t won a Platinum event since the British Open in April 2022 but after claiming the title in the final edition of the Canary Wharf Classic, the Commonwealth Games Gold medalist started to show a change in form at the end of last season and carried that into the new campaign, seeing immediate results as he narrowly lost out to Ali Farag in the Paris Squash semi-finals.

We caught up with Coll to talk about his thoughts on the first half of the season as well as his goals for the rest of the 2023/24 season and the technical changes he’s made:

“I’m very happy with the first half of the season. Winning the U.S. Open was a huge goal of mine but just getting back to good form was the main goal.” said Coll.

“Winning two Platinum titles and the NZ Open is better than I thought as my main focus was getting back to enjoying my training and playing. I sort of lost that last season and the wins are a bonus. I’m happy with how I’m preparing for events mentally and I’m enjoying my squash again.”

Coll captured the U.S. Open title for the first time in his career in October, beating defending champion Diego Elias in the semi-finals and World No.1 Ali Farag in the final. Coll admits he enjoyed the Paris Squash semi-final loss to Farag and that spurred him on for the final in Philadelphia:

“The U.S. Open in any sport is a big title, in golf and tennis especially and it’s a major event for us too. To win that was one of my goals and to get my name on that trophy was wicked.

“Yeah of course, he [Ali Farag] was the man to beat and still is. I really enjoyed that match, like really enjoyed it. I got back to getting enjoyment from that battle and going deep into the fifth and against Ali, who was plating so well at the time. I got confidence from how my squash was and how I was, physically and mentally so that was a nice platform to start the season and I pushed on from there.”

Many have noticed the change in Coll’s swing this season. His preparation on both sides is slightly higher and this has enabled him to unlock more opportunities during his matches.

“To get higher on my swing has definitely been a conscious change this season. It’s not to be steeper, but to get through the ball more and a hit flatter so I’m not cutting as much. My length is now more penetrating and i’m trying to be aggressive with it. I’m trying to come down on the ball but not trying to cut it too much so it slows down. This is helping me get the ball through more and stop my opponents volleying it.

“These are the type of things that I get addicted to, trying to improve these small technical things. I’m really enjoying it and love to practice these things. I video myself constantly to see the swing patterns and foot placement and things like that. But I love it.

“You can definitely go too far but I’d like to think i’m smart with it. I haven’t been in the past and it’s about fine tuning little things. All the changes at the top level are minuscule. I’m trying to work on deception, severity, aggression, all of that stuff. You can get carried away but my team around me keep me in check.”

Coll’s new technique has allowed him to have more opportunities to take the ball in short, something that Coll has struggled with in the past. But the New Zealand No.1 now feels the most comfortable he ever has in the front of the court as is excited to continue his progress.

“I think this season, the way I’ve been trying to play has given me more more opportunities to take the ball in. I’m getting more chances across the T. I feel sharper, quicker and just more ready to take it in. 

“I feel like I’m reading the ball a lot better. It all starts with hitting the right targets at the back and I can see the ball better and anticipate better because of the foundations. It’s an encouraging thing for sure.”

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Coll has identified one tournament that he is desperate to win:

“I want to win the World Champs. I haven’t won that before and obviously that would be a great one to tick off. It’s a career long goal, not just for this season. But I just need to keep working and keep enjoying the process.”

Coll heads to Detroit next for the Motor City Open before moving onto Chicago where he’ll look to defend his Windy City Open title from 2022.