Coll pipped for Perth title

It was a case of close but no cigar for rising star Paul Coll at the PSA World Tour's City of Perth WA Open.

The 22-year-old Kiwi was beaten in the final by top seed Jan Koukal from the Czech Republic, but he didn't go down without a fight.

Koukal was on course for a straight games victory after winning the opening two games, although Coll pushed him close on both occasions.

The third seed then upped the ante to grab the next two games to take the match into a fifth game decider.

However, Coll couldn't sustain his fightback with Koukal proving too strong in the final game as he closed out an 11-9, 12-10, 4-11, 8-11, 11-6 victory.

Meanwhile, a cruel twist of fate has prevented fellow Kiwi Megan Craig from making it two titles in as many weeks on the WSA tour, following her victory in Alice Springs last weekend.

The top seed missed out on a spot in the final in Perth due to an act of sportsmanship that went awry during her semifinal against Australian Sarah Cardwell. With the games locked at 1-all and Craig up 7-4 in the third, the 21-year-old kiwi retrieved the ball for her opponent between rallies, but inadvertently hit Cardwell in the eye when the Aussie failed to catch the ball.

After a 15-minute injury break, Cardwell announced she was unable to continue and was awarded the match due to Craig being at fault.

Cardwell went on to lose the final four hours later.

Results

Men

Quarterfinals

1. Jan Koukal (CZE) def Matthew Hopkin (AUS) 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 4. Sunil Seth (GUY) def 5. Josh Larkin (AUS) 11-3, 11-3, 12-14, 11-9 3. Paul Coll (NZL) def 7. Valentino Bon Jovi Bong (MAS) 8-11, 11-3, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6 2. Mike Corren (AUS) def 6. Jean Pierre Brits (SAF) 11-8, 12-10, 15-17, 11-5

Semifinals

1. Jan Koukal (CZE) def 4. Sunil Seth (GUY) 11-3, 11-1, 14012 3. Paul Coll (NZL) def 2. Mike Corren (AUS) 12-10, 11-13, 11-6, 11-4

Final

1. Jan Koukal (CZE) def 3. Paul Coll (NZL) 11-9, 12-10, 4-11, 8-11, 11-6

Women

Quarterfinals

1. Megan Craig (NZL) def 5. Cheyna Tucker (SAF) 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-2 3. Sarah Cardwell (NZL) def (L) Cindy Robarts (AUS) 11-2, 11-6, 11-4 4. Kim Ga-Hye (KOR) def 8. Lakeesha Rarere (AUS) 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 2. Milou van der Heijden (NED) def 7. Alexandra Fuller (SAF) 11-3, 11-5, 11-4

Semifinals

3. Sarah Cardwell (AUS) def 1. Megan Craig (NZL) 6-11, 11-5, 4-7 (disqualified) 2. Milou van der Heijden (NED) def 4. Kim Ga-Hye (KOR) 11-8, 11-2, 8-11, 11-9

Final

2. Milou van der Heijden (NED) def 3. Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 11-9, 11-4, 11-5

Full draw/results: http://www.squash.org.au/announcements/wa-open-2014?template=sqaus