New Zealand’s top squash players, Joelle King and Paul Coll, have both won their matches overnight at the Hong Kong Squash Open Platinum event.
Despite dropping a game, the results were still good and have prepared them for the third round of matches and potential games against high seeds in the quarterfinals.
Coll says, “I’m really happy, I felt like my performance was a bit up and down and against a home player like that, he is always going to be up for it. It’s a tough one and I really had to dig deep to find some answers to his attacking at the front.”
King defeated Egyptian Mayar Hany in the women’s singles. She says it's a good feeling getting a win under her belt.
“It’s nice to get off to a winning start. Last time I played Mayar she actually beat me and that was in the British Open two years ago, so I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy match. I guess with any of the young Egyptians they fight until the very end, so I’m just pleased to come off with a 3-1 win.”
King says Hany’s playing style is similar to hers and knew that it was going to be a tough match.
“I obviously knew it was going to be tough but I’m glad to be on the board against her and it’s 1-1 now.”
King will face another Egyptian, 20th ranked Hania El Hammamy on Thursday evening and Coll will face Englishman Declan James who is ranked 18 in the world.