Aussie Tour veteran Corren falls to Kiwi Coll in semi-finals
By Squash Mad Reporter
Czech squash star Jan Koukal celebrated his 50th appearance in a PSA World Tour final in suitable style by winning the 30th title of his career at the City of Perth WA Open in Australia.
The 30-year-old from Prague is one of the most industrious players on the international circuit.
Koukal competed in 24 PSA tour events in 2013 and has notched up his 10th already this year in Perth.
The top seed romped to the final of the PSA Challenger 5 event at the Terrace Squash Centre where he faced Paul Coll, the third-seeded New Zealander who denied Australia’s Mike Corren a third successive Tour title on home soil when he upset the No2 seed in the semi-finals.
Underdog Coll, ranked 87 in the world, took Koukal the full distance – but the World No.67 ultimately prevailed 11-9, 12-10, 4-11, 8-11, 11-6 in 52 minutes to pick up his third title of the year.
Koukal now becomes only the fourth player on the current PSA Tour to notch up a 30th title – behind Mike Corren (49) and Egyptians Ramy Ashour (34) and Amr Shabana (33).
PSA Challenger 5 City of Perth WA Open, Perth, Australia
1st round:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [Q] Ronivaldo Duarte (BRA) 12-10, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8
Chris van der Salm (NZL) bt Alex Eustace (AUS) 11-4, 12-10, 11-8
Matthew Hopkin (AUS) bt [Q] Diego Gobbi (BRA) 11-6, 11-3, 4-11, 11-2
Thomas Calvert (AUS) bt [8] Rhys Dowling (AUS) 11-9, 12-10, 13-11
[5] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt [Q] Guhan Senthilkumar (IND) 11-5, 11-4, 11-3
Christo Potgieter (RSA) bt Matthew Bridle (AUS) 11-6, 13-11, 11-1
Ben Grindrod (NZL) bt Aidan Parkes (AUS) 11-7, 11-2, 11-7
[4] Sunil Seth (GUY) bt Julian Tomlinson (ENG) 11-5, 11-9, 11-13, 11-6
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [Q] Shaun McErvale (AUS) 11-1, 11-3, 11-2
TJ French (AUS) bt Brenton Scheer (AUS) 11-6, 11-5, 11-7
Kwon Hyeon-Jun (KOR) bt Darcy Evans (AUS) 2-11, 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6
[7] Valentino Bon Jovi Bong (MAS) bt [WC] David Clegg (AUS) 11-7, 11-4, 11-6
[6] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) bt [Q] Ben Takamizawa Harris (JPN) 10-12, 11-1, 10-12, 11-4, 11-8
Tim Cowell (AUS) bt [Q] Daehoon Jeong (KOR) 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 5-11, 11-5
Will John (WAL) bt [Q] Kale Wilson (TRI) 13-11, 11-5, 11-6
[2] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [Q] David Ilich (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 11-2
2nd round:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Chris van der Salm (NZL) 11-9, 11-5, 11-7
Matthew Hopkin (AUS) bt Thomas Calvert (AUS) 11-3, 11-5, 11-2
[5] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt Christo Potgieter (RSA) 13-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7
[4] Sunil Seth (GUY) bt Ben Grindrod (NZL) 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 12-10
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt TJ French (AUS) 11-5, 11-1, 11-2
[7] Valentino Bon Jovi Bong (MAS) bt Kwon Hyeon-Jun (KOR) 11-7, 9-11, 12-14, 11-6, 11-5
[6] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) bt Tim Cowell (AUS) 11-6, 11-4, 12-10
[2] Mike Corren (AUS) bt Will John (WAL) 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7
Quarter-finals:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Matthew Hopkin (AUS) 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 (28m)
[4] Sunil Seth (GUY) bt [5] Joshua Larkin (AUS) 11-3, 11-3, 12-14, 11-9 (55m)
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [7] Valentino Bon Jovi Bong (MAS) 8-11, 11-3, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6 (52m)
[2] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [6] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) 11-8, 12-10, 15-17, 11-5 (54m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [4] Sunil Seth (GUY) 11-3, 11-1, 14-12 (26m)
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [2] Mike Corren (AUS) 12-10, 11-13, 11-6, 11-4 (51m)
Final:
[1] Jan Koukal (CZE) bt [3] Paul Coll (NZL) 11-9, 12-10, 4-11, 8-11, 11-6 (52m)
Picture courtesy of Louise Winger