Kiwi squash star Paull Coll is through to the semi-finals of the British Open in Hull, after a five-set thriller against Egyptian Mazen Hesham on Saturday (NZT).
Coll stormed to a 11-3, 5-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6 victory in Hull and will now face world number one Ali Farag of Egypt for a spot in the final.
The result means the 27-year-old becomes the first New Zealand male to reach the final four at the event since Ross Norman in 1989.
"I was fighting myself a bit in the head, almost seeing the finishing line too soon and got caught up in a bit too much frantic stuff up front, where he thrives," Coll said afterwards.
"Once I stuck to my gameplan and sorted myself out in the head, then I was alright, but there was too many lapses for a player of his calibre.
"I thought I was going to close out the fourth, but I got too ahead of myself and he is such a talented player. He can hit shots out of nowhere, so credit to him for fighting.
"Physically, I'm feeling good and it was more in the head today. Coming towards the end of the season, and my body is one piece and feeling match fit, so taking each day as it comes."
The contest against Farag in the semi will certainly not be easy. Coll won their first match in 2017, but since then has lost the last seven contests.
Meanwhile, fellow Kiwi Joelle King suffered a straight-sets 11-8, 11-3, 11-6 defeat to Nour El Tayeb in the women's quarter-finals.
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