QF: Paul contains talented Zakaria

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[3] Paul Coll (NZL) 3-0 Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) 12-10, 11-7, 11-4 (62m)

Full support from the crowd but not the frenzy we had with Mostafa I noticed. Weird as “Ziko” is even younger than Mostafa when he played and beat Paul Coll the first time in Blackball…

I love watching that young boy. At no time he tried to shorten the rallies Junior like. He accepted the rallies, 27m first game. I KID YOU NOT. 27 minutes!

And what a battle in that game, a HUGE rally at 5/3 Paul serving, at least 3m, ending with a stroke for Zakaria. Strangely enough, Paul made two uncharacteristic errors at that rally, I was expecting Zakaria to make them…

5/5, 6/6, 7/7. Asking the crowd to get vocal, the Egyptian takes a two points lead, 9/7. But Paul’s response is that good Zakaria actually claps! Some outrageous rally on Paul’s second game ball, 10/9, 11/10, with Zakaria diving Superman style!!!

The Kiwi finally closes the opener 12/10.

The second is “only” 23m, very close in the middle of the game, with Paul finding his best squash, 4/4, 5/5, 11/7, with the young man being refused some time off to stop the bleeding on his elbow at 9/7.

Not much left in the Egyptian tank in the third – are you surprised?? – 9m game, 7/2, 8/3, 11/4…

Zakaria : I could have been more attacking to be honest.

I could have used the pace better, turned it on the forehand more than on the backhand, I could have done a lot of things.

But all credit to him, he made it very difficult, got everything back and made it very hard for me to dictate anything.

I learn more from these matches, so I’m going to rewatch it and increase my level as I go.

Paul :  “He’s playing very well. I believe that he’s breaking into he top 20 after this tournament, the second youngest player ever to do it so really well done to him. I felt comfortable out there, I controlled the pace quite well and I felt good I injected the pace in and I was happy to do that so well.

“Being on the court more gives me more of an advantage for sure. I tried to use my older age and experience to play in these conditions and I felt comfortable out there tonight.

“Asal gave me a hiding in London a few weeks back, so I’ve got to tweak a few things. He had a rest tonight so I’m sure he’s enjoying that but no, he’s playing very well at the moment so I have to adjust a few things and come out and give it my best shot.”