New Zealand squash player Paul Coll's run at the Black Ball Open in Cairo has come to an end with defeat in the semifinals to second seed Ali Farag of Egypt.
Paul Coll in action against Ali Farag of Egypt Photo: SquashPics
Supported by a vocal crowd, Farag was too strong throughout and didn't allow Coll to settle into any sort of rhythm. Only a late comeback in the third game gave Coll, ranked seventh in the world, a chance of taking the match further.
Eventually it was Farag who prevailed with a 11-4 11-4 13-11 victory in 47 minutes to seal his spot in the final.
The tournament pushed Coll closer towards a higher ranking and gave him one of his best career wins, over No.3 Simon Rosner the previous round.
The Greymouth 26-year-old has now made the semis, quarter-finals and quarter-finals of his last three tournaments, all of which have been Platinum events.
He returns to New Zealand in a few days where he will play an exhibition series against world No.11 Diego Elias of Peru) in five locations around the country from December 13-19,