Hometown stars Paul Coll and Joelle King are both through to the final of the PSA New Zealand Squash Open in Tauranga.
Joelle King and Paul Coll of New Zealand celebrate winning the Mixed Doubles Gold Medal Match at the University of Birmingham Hockey and Squash Centre. Photo: Photosport
The local pair won their respective semifinals in straight games in Tauranga on Saturday.
Top seed Coll overcame the dangerous Abdulla Mohd al Tamimi 11-9 11-8 11-4 in what was a tussle between al Tamimi's precise front-court touch and Coll's explosive movement.
An emotional Coll savoured the win in front of close and extended family from Greymouth and beyond.
"It's impossible to settle [against al Tamimi]," he said.
"The way I was feeling in the first couple of rallies I thought I was in trouble, but I was seeing it really clearly. I'm so happy with my performance today. Big thanks to the crowd; they got me through that one."
Meanwhile King, who is also top seed, booked her place in the final with an emphatic win over the Belgian fifth seed, Tinne Gilis.
A fired- up King showed superior court craft to take the match in straight games 11-5 11-5 11-4.
"Absolutely I'm thrilled. I get on really well with Tinne and when you draw someone you like, it's hard to beat them.
"She's such a talent who'll be here on tour for a long while yet, so really I'm very relieved as I didn't want to let you guys down. I was super nervous today, so to come out and play like that was something special."
She lines up in the final on Sunday against either fourth seed Nele Gilis (Belgium) or Welsh sixth seed Tesni Evans.
Coll's will play against either second seed Mohammed ElShorbagy or third seed Victor Crouin of France in the men's final.
