Paul Coll in action. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Results have not been going Paul Coll's way on the squash court of late, but the world number three is feeling confident ahead of the New Zealand Squash Championships.
Coll missed the tournament last year as it clashed with his wedding plans, but as the top seed for the event at Auckland's North Shore Squash Club this week he has a chance to claim an eighth national title.
The national event is back in Auckland for the first time since 2020, and will see 140 players compete across both the Open and National Graded Championships for titles including New Zealand's top squash honours.
Coll's biggest challengers for the national title are likely to be Elijah Thomas, Willz Donnelly and Glenn Templeton.
Injury forced Coll out of the PSA Tour Finals in Canada last month.
"I'm playing well, just not quite the results I have wanted and a couple of performances in the semi-finals which have left me hungry for more for sure," Coll said.
"I'm enjoying my squash and feeling pretty good on court."
Coll has also turned to data to improve his game, analysing GPS information to understand what was working for him on court.
"Every time the match gets hard or physical I ended up winning the games, and every time it wasn't I'd lose, so just trying to bring the physicality early in matches and in a different way as well just a bit harder and a bit faster rather than long in duration."
Coll has limited opportunities to play at home and relished the chance nationals provided to see the next generation of talent in action.
"Personally, I really enjoy the chance to connect with the New Zealand squash community and spend a bit of time with our developing players. There are some great names in the draw and I'm looking forward to a big few days of competition."
New women's champion to be crowned
On the women's side, there will be a new champion with Joelle King missing the tournament due to injury.
Commonwealth Games athlete Kaitlyn Watts will be the favourite to take the title, but she'll have her work cut out for her with up-and-comer Ella Lash in impressive form, having just claimed her first PSA Challenger Title at the Trust Aoraki Midlands PSA tournament last week.
Shelley Kitchen at the Women's World Squash Teams semifinals 2010 Photo: Dave Lintott
The women's draw also sees the return of New Zealand squash great Shelley Kitchen, who last contested the national championships a decade ago. It will be a family affair for the Kitchens, with Shelley to compete in the same draw as her teenage daughter, Amalia Ricketts.
"It's pretty cool to be playing a New Zealand champs with Amalia," Kitchen said.
"I was playing this competition when I was a teenager and I really wanted her to have a similar experience, taking on the best players in New Zealand, as it really drove me on.
"It'll be special to share that with her. I've been training a little and play a couple of times a week, so we'll see how it goes and how far I get."
The draw also includes 11 young New Zealanders set to contest the World Junior champs in Egypt later in July.
The 2025 Long Burroughs New Zealand Squash Championships run from Friday to Sunday.
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