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00:00We are ready for our next match, which is between Paul Cole of New Zealand against August Dussaud of France.
00:06Just give us a little insight as to what we could expect here.
00:10Well, Paul Cole, obviously a man in form, fresh off his New Zealand victory,
00:14and I think that's kind of the word that's going around with him.
00:18He's very fresh, he hasn't really been tested, and that's the opposite for Dussaud,
00:22who's come through two five-setters on the backcourts, battling it out.
00:26In both matches, he played Sanjay Jeeva and Dimitri Steinman, coming back from 2-1 in both of those,
00:33so a lot of time spent on court for him, and he's taking on the fresh Paul Cole,
00:37so it's a big, big task, but he's done fantastically well here in the past.
00:42He definitely won a few fans in these parts last year by making his first ever semifinal gold event.
00:50Hasn't done great since then, but fantastic run so far for August, so we'll see what happens.
00:55And Paul just falling short last year, losing to Karim Gawad in the men's final,
00:59but looking like he could go the distance here this year.
01:01Well, that was actually a massive shock. I remember watching it, and in the fourth game,
01:05it almost looked like Gawad had checked out, who sort of gave up on one,
01:08and almost looked to be heading to the door, and just somehow Paul stuck in there.
01:13Gawad sort of blew it a little bit, and then the fifth came back,
01:18and so it was a tough one for Paul to lose, but I don't think he'll be doing that any
01:23time soon.
01:24He's never lost to do so. Three love in the head-to-head,
01:26so I guess that gives us a steer on where this next match might go.
01:30Yeah, he's a heavy favourite, given the head-to-head record, their paths to this match tonight,
01:35and just how well Paul's been playing in recent months.
01:38And that last meeting was in the round of 32 at the TOC, the Tournament of Champions,
01:42which took place in January. Cole winning the match by three games to love,
01:46so I guess there are plenty of evidence, again, that Cole's the man to watch here.
01:49Where could he come unstuck?
01:51I think it's, I think he'll, I don't want to be too harsh, but I think he'll get through,
01:56and conditions are tough. There's plenty of other good players in the bottom half,
01:59Joel, Zachariah, and Jonah as well, so lots to look forward to.
02:04See more from them later in the tournament.
02:06Now down to this one between New Zealand and France. Here's Ben Abbott.
02:10Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's time for our next match.
02:12Thank you so much. We are ready to bring out the players.
02:15And firstly, after a massive upset yesterday, looking to continue their incredible form here in Brisbane,
02:21ranked number 35 in the world.
02:23Could you please welcome this player from France, Auguste Toussaint?
02:42And their opponent here tonight, a previous world number one,
02:46currently ranked number two, and here in Brisbane as the number one seed.
02:51Could you please welcome from New Zealand, Paul Cole.
03:09Ladies and gentlemen, Squash fans, our match referee...
03:12Well, here we go, folks. It's the first men's match of the day.
03:15In fact, we've got two more matches left, both of them being men's.
03:20It's Paul Cole, the number one seed, taking on Auguste Toussaint of France.
03:25I'm Paul Hornsby, and I'm joined by former world number two, Jenny Duncalf, in the commentary booth.
03:32Good evening, Paul.
03:36Well, this is Paul Cole in action here last year against Karim Abdel-Gawad.
03:44As we've been talking about various points this week, he had this fourth game in the palm of his hand
03:49before offering Gawad a way back in.
03:53He took it with both hands and managed to close it out in four games.
03:57Yeah, massive final.
03:59Well, Gawad's really thrilled the crowd.
04:03Well, he's in with the short-sleeved shirt again.
04:06It is absolutely steaming hot here this evening in Brisbane.
04:11So we'll give him the benefit of the doubt for the choice of the no-sleeves.
04:16But 33 years of age, Paul Cole has been around the block several times on the PSA World Tour.
04:23He's been as high as world number one back in 2022.
04:27Just look at that, Jenny.
04:29639 matches.
04:30That is a lot of squash.
04:32It's huge, isn't it?
04:33And 54 finals, he's been in 31 titles now.
04:37Great win percentage, 72%.
04:41And he's just looking pretty unbreakable at the moment.
04:46He's world number two.
04:47It's all not here this week.
04:49Yeah, certainly a man on a mission.
04:56Good hip mobility is necessary for getting out of those deep lunges on the squash court.
05:01So here are three exercises to help you loosen up your hips.
05:04First exercise is a Spider-Man stretch, which is going to target the inside and the outside of the hip.
05:09You're going to put your hands down on the floor and then rotate up to the ceiling.
05:13Next exercise is an adductor rock back, which is going to target that groin area.
05:18So you're going to put your hands down on the floor, stretch your leg out, and then sit your hips
05:21back towards your heel.
05:23Third exercise is the couch stretch, which is going to target the front of the hip here.
05:27Just post that back leg up on something and then hold while squeezing that butt cheek.
05:36Well, there you go, Jenny.
05:38The importance of looking after your hips as a squash player cannot be underestimated.
05:45Auguste Dussaud has not had a great run of things since he was here last year.
05:49He had a great tournament that week, came through some massive matches to make the semifinal.
05:54But since then, there's not been very much for him to write home about.
05:59Yeah, he has had a bit of a tough season, to be honest.
06:02It's not like he's had very bad results.
06:04He's lost to some extremely good players, had a bit of an injury.
06:08So the calibre of players that he's lost to has been very high.
06:12Yes, he'll be happy to get a couple of wins under his belt here in Australia.
06:15Both brutal five-setters, so we'll see what he's got left tonight to take on Cole,
06:22who's had everything running his way recently.
06:26And if we talk about what's run his way, all three of the previous matches have,
06:31the most recent of which was in January this year.
06:34So not that long ago, it's very straightforward three-loop victory for Paul.
06:47Well, this is the squash 101, for those who are seeing squash for the first time.
06:52A match is played over best of five games,
06:54so essentially the first person to three games is the winner.
06:57And each game needs to be won by two clear points.
07:01What we often see on the squash court is a bit of interference from time to time.
07:06A yes-let is when the rally is replayed.
07:11A no-let is if there's deemed to be no interference.
07:14And then a stroke is when there is too much interference for a player to hit the ball,
07:19and they are awarded that point.
07:28Here's the racket spinners.
07:30They're actually Rob Donoghue, our squash Australia CEO's two little boys,
07:35or not so little now.
07:39Great to see them involved.
07:42They had a little bit of a behind-the-scenes look at our commentary section
07:45in the studio yesterday, so really making the most of this year's event.
07:56Yeah, it's wonderful to see the juniors able to come in
08:00and soak up the atmosphere, actually get onto the court
08:02and meet the players, of course, as they've just been there.
08:05Special moments for those chaps, and hopefully one day they'll be on there playing.
08:09Well, that's the plan, Paul.
08:11Many of the volunteers here this week are some of Australia's best junior squash players,
08:15so the chance to carry their bags, spin the rackets,
08:18soak it up.
08:20Well, there's our main referee for this match,
08:23Josh Foyle in the main video referee position.
08:29It is actually the video referee is Damien Green for this match.
08:39Well, that's the Frenchman's corner.
08:41It's been a long time, mate.
08:42It's been a long time.
08:44Fond memories of playing on this court.
08:56Scorchershine Open 2026 men's quarterfinals match.
09:01Augusta de Sour of France to serve.
09:05Paul Cole of New Zealand to receive.
09:08Best of five games.
09:29Love all.
09:34So we're underway here in the first men's match of tonight.
09:39Augusta de Sour looking very fresh in the white.
09:43Let's just hope his body is fresh.
09:45He's had a lot of time on court.
09:47Fantastic result beating the number 60 Dimitri Steinmann.
09:51Just yesterday he was 2-1 down as he was against Malaysia's Sanjay Jeeva.
09:56So we'll be hoping that his body can stay intact.
10:03But there's definitely something in the water in these parts for the Frenchman.
10:07Really did enjoy watching him last year.
10:09He beat his countryman, Batiste Massotti.
10:13Fantastic win there.
10:153-0 in the second round.
10:16And then that mammoth 89-minute quarterfinal against Spain's Dominic Jaume.
10:23Which had everything.
10:24Full of drama.
10:24Oh, the audience absolutely lapped it up.
10:31Down.
10:34Yeah, you mentioned how Tuffy's had to battle the way in his early rounds at the Sandgate Club.
10:40So aside from last year, this is his first appearance on this court this week.
10:47And the heat healer, Jenny, as we keep talking about.
10:50It's no joking matter, is it?
10:52No, it's extremely intense.
10:54Don't do much training these days.
10:56But I've spent many years training in these parts at the clubs.
11:00And dehydration is definitely a factor.
11:02So it's extremely important for these guys and girls to be on top of that,
11:06which I'm sure they are professionals at their game.
11:11Paul Cole in the sleeveless shirt there.
11:14He had a buy in the first round, being the top seed.
11:17The top eight seeds have a buy to get through to the second round.
11:21Where he beat Hong Kong's Henry Lund.
11:24Three love.
11:24Pretty unscathed in that one.
11:29Yeah, it's been uncanny this last couple of weeks.
11:32The way things have kind of worked in Paul Cole's favour with the players that have...
11:38he's come up against have often been a bit bashed about in the previous rounds.
11:42But I'll tell you what, that is...
11:44You know, we were talking about there in the knock-up.
11:46He's played close to 650 matches.
11:49There'll be plenty of those matches where he was up against challenges
11:52and having to deal with things that may have worked the other way for him.
11:56So he's not been handed anything on a plate.
11:58And what I would say about the way Cole has approached the New Zealand Open
12:03and this event so far is with complete and utter professionalism.
12:06Not been complacent at all.
12:08Yeah, it's just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.
12:11It's just the nature of the sport.
12:13His battles.
12:15He's been on the back end of some as well.
12:18Where's that?
12:19Oh, did he get that?
12:21I was going to say, that didn't look good from here.
12:23He didn't give too much away with his body language, did he?
12:25Well, he doesn't tend to.
12:26I quite enjoyed that about him last year.
12:32He's sort of quite a little quirky character.
12:35Doesn't give too much.
12:36Extremely competitive underneath.
12:39And you have to be coming back from 2-1 down in the previous two rounds.
12:45And he's got a nice backhand.
12:48The problem for him is that Paul Cole also does.
12:51He's more than happy to park himself on that side of the court across the short line.
12:55Backhand drops.
12:56It's been looking good all New Zealand Open and so far here.
13:10That's what Bide.
13:12What Bide, he really snapped the wrist through the ball there.
13:25Three, four, there you go.
13:46I must admit, I was a little bit worried in the day one when the Joseph White local wildcards
13:54was on court.
13:55A moth appeared and it took several minutes to deal with that.
13:58That was a yellow butterfly, Paul.
14:00It wasn't a moth.
14:00Shows what I know.
14:02It's a very good looking moth.
14:07All I do know is it's definitely not a snake or a spider.
14:11Yeah, you'll be out the door big time if you see that.
14:14Oh, yeah.
14:38Down the backhand side, this time off the racket.
14:40Paul Cole again saw that smooth trajectory of the ball sailing straight back there because
14:46it didn't clip the sidewall.
14:49So, you saw just got to be a little bit careful when he chooses to play that volley cross-court
14:56drop because he does like that shot.
14:58But if Cole's onto it quickly, he's been really good at putting the straight drop in but then
15:03holding it the front right and then really whipping it cross-court.
15:08Yeah, that's the thing when you're playing against someone with the speed of Paul Cole.
15:13If you are flicking the ball around the angles, the risky factor of a cross-court flick is that the
15:19ball spends quite a bit of time in open space.
15:23So, you've really got to sell the straight shot to the opponent for it to be effective.
15:30Quite different techniques or racket preparation on their forehands.
15:34As Paul prepared all the time, he saw just a little bit lower there.
15:39He always takes slightly more languid, comes from a deep lower position.
15:42And Paul Cole's probably the most, one of the earliest racket preparations in the game.
15:52Well, I know that's a massive coaching philosophy of his coach, Rob Owen.
15:58Have that racket in a position as early as possible where you show that you can put the ball into
16:03any part of the court.
16:05Show your options.
16:06It makes it very difficult for your opponent to be able to anticipate.
16:14That's why our game is so good, isn't it, Paul?
16:16There's players with different techniques, different glossophies.
16:22He made that look so easy.
16:23Very casual.
16:27We've got players like Hesham or Rami Ashour who are always sort of fiddling with their backswings and extremely deceptive
16:34as well, but in a different way.
16:38100%.
16:38Well, there's the volley in question.
16:40Just uses the wrist to turn the racket face over the top of the ball and pull it down.
16:45It's a different technique.
16:46It's not a textbook, but it worked on that occasion.
16:49Strike to call.
16:53Hand out.
16:546-4.
17:01Well, he's by no means run away from Dussaud in this opening game.
17:06It's been reasonably long and attritional, which is what Cole would have wanted.
17:12I mean, if you'd have asked August Dussaud to pick his second, his third round quarterfinal opponent.
17:19After the previous two days, Cole would have been at the bottom of the list.
17:24Well, it's a wonderful insight to how this venue just sits here on the riverbank.
17:31It is a spectacular venue, to say the very least.
17:35The camera angles certainly do it justice.
17:39An event is held down here at South Bank Piazza.
17:45Caught in the swing there, Paul Cole, unable to play a shot.
17:51The physicality and fitness part of last year's tournament really impressed me from Dussaud, though.
17:57He had that huge match against Yao, and then he did then face Goward, the eventual winner in the semis,
18:03and did take a game off him.
18:05I think everyone predicted he'd sort of just fizzle away, three luck.
18:09But he made it competitive, and I really, really was impressed by that.
18:13Yeah, I remember that.
18:14She had a great character.
18:16I mean, it was a massive challenge, Brent, to take down the number one seed in that situation.
18:25It's quick on to it, isn't it?
18:27His movements have been so sharp.
18:29Well, on that occasion there, Jenny, we've been talking a little bit about getting your straight drives running through
18:33without touching the sidewall.
18:34It's a sidewall that stopped the ball from getting past Dussaud there.
18:39Court services, please.
18:48Again, nice and smooth.
18:50A little panic or excitement there when the opportunity presented itself for Dussaud.
18:56Just pops it away.
18:57There's the court cleaners mopping up.
18:59We'll see them a handful of times, I'm sure, throughout this match.
19:03Players sweating profusely.
19:06Great, thank you.
19:14Hand out.
19:16Five, eight.
19:18Three forehand winners from the Frenchman so far.
19:36Just looking at the way Dussaud's playing here, you'd never think that it's been on such a...
19:42No lap.
19:43A horrendously poor run that results since this event last year because he looks to me as positive.
19:50Well, let's have a look at this review.
19:55Original decisions, no let there, Jenny.
19:58I think the referee's seeing that, the space there to the right side of Cole to go and get that
20:02ball back.
20:03He initially moves slightly to the left there and then rethinks and comes to the right.
20:07Yeah, no let, decision upheld, Dussaud has one review remaining.
20:12There was space to go through.
20:14Nine-five.
20:22That's the view that the spectators on the few rows of chairs just outside the back of the back wall.
20:32What a perspective they get of the athleticism and skill that's on display.
20:40Extreme seats.
20:42Separates them.
20:44Not up.
20:48Ten-five.
20:48It's so enthralling when you watch live sports and live squash this close up for the first time.
20:55Game ball.
20:56From the back there, the view's pretty spectacular.
20:59Well, it's five-game balls for the number one seed.
21:02Slowly but surely chipped away on the scoreboard.
21:06And that's going to be a stroke for Cole.
21:08There was no way he could hit that into the front wall.
21:11Cole leads.
21:12One game to love.
21:16Well, he's looking pretty nice and confident out there.
21:20The Kiwi gets underway in this quarterfinal.
21:23Twelve minutes for the first game.
21:25It's Paul Cole that takes it.
21:27Eleven, five.
21:39Solid start from Paul Cole, the men's top seed.
21:42Fresh off his New Zealand Open victory.
21:45August De Soa started pretty well.
21:47You can see how dangerous he is across the middle, especially on that forehand side.
21:52Three winners on that side.
21:54But Paul Cole, we've been saying it many times this season.
21:57Solid as a rock.
21:59Business-like performance so far.
22:02We're looking to move on to take a two-love lead.
22:06Fantastic pitchers here on the slow-mo camera.
22:09How hard these players work.
22:13Finishing with a stroke in that game.
22:15So, Paul Cole looking strong at one love.
22:20Yeah, he'll be very satisfied with how that first game unfolded.
22:25All about making it physical for his opponent.
22:28See, he may be winning, but he's still working hard himself with the ice on the face.
22:33This is his wife, Nayla Hillis, who got the job done before him.
22:37Gives him some words of wisdom.
22:40Yeah, speaking to Nayla in the studio just now, she won three love, but she was absolutely dripping.
22:46I was worried there may be some sort of electrical shock about to happen.
22:49Flavour is new in 30 seconds.
22:52On to Sword.
23:0215 seconds.
23:08Well, Coles, the first player back on court there.
23:11Hit the ice on the head.
23:13Get some fluids on board.
23:15He's ready to rock and roll.
23:17Just as the We Will Rock You is played by the DJ.
23:24Coles, one game to Love.
23:31Love all.
23:44Well, this to Sword.
23:47If he doesn't manage to win this match.
23:50He's not got off to a great start for him.
23:53He needs to be leaving this court, leaving this event, feeling like he's back to somewhere near where he wants
24:00to be.
24:00Because winning becomes a habit, as we often say, as does losing.
24:06And when you're on such a long losing streak, you kind of forget how to close matches out and how
24:14to get the job done in the earlier rounds of tournament.
24:17So it's great for the Frenchman that he can take confidence from this event one way or another.
24:23It's impossible for him to turn this around, of course.
24:25Yes, Le?
24:26Yeah, I mean, I think it's good just to get a run of matches.
24:29He has played events where he's come up against very difficult, higher-ranked opponents.
24:35So for him to reach the quarters here tonight, having taken out the world number 18 Steinman and a great
24:43win against Jeeva 3-2 as well.
24:46He lost in his first match in New Zealand, but only 12-10 in the fourth to Knudsen from Columbia,
24:53which is no shame he's man in form as well.
24:55I feel like he should really kick on from here.
24:58It's been another good trip so far, and that is only to say if he loses here tonight as well.
25:02Well, that's a nice one off Joshua.
25:04Yeah, of course not.
25:07Of course, Cole's always going to attack a punch from high on that backhand volley.
25:13Didn't have to move anywhere.
25:14The ball presented itself.
25:15He had the whole court.
25:16It was mercy.
25:18One half.
25:26It's quite nice the way these quarters, the men's quarters, two matches tonight, quite different in the age of...
25:32...brackets, these boys, 30, and Paul Cole, 33, and then the youngsters, Joan O'Brien and Melville, Siona Manico, both
25:4020 years of age, like the young pretenders.
25:45Yes, plenty of squash to look forward to tonight.
25:57Well, he's ramping up the pace here, Cole.
26:00He's trying to dissolve.
26:02It's just gone a bit wonky for him there, but he's really looking to press forward on the shoreline on
26:07that backhand volley.
26:08One off.
26:25Down.
26:26That wasn't far off.
26:29Hand out.
26:29No, it was good effort.
26:30Two, one.
26:31Technique was right.
26:32The shot was right, so you can't really blame him for going for that shot.
26:36He reminds me a little bit of Marwan El-Shivagi on the forehand, the way he comes across on the
26:40volley.
26:41His technique.
26:46Swatting balls.
26:48Yes, let.
26:50He's talking to the volley, we've been alluding to the volley of both players there, Jen, it's such a hugely
26:55important part of the game.
26:57It becomes more and more important, the higher level of squash you play.
27:00I tend to see that amateur level players probably just have a little bit of a deeper tee position and
27:07let much more stuff come through to the back of the court.
27:10Yeah, always looking to cut the ball off the professional players, whether on the volley or before the glass back.
27:16A lot of the ability to volley, as well as your technique, comes from that quality into the back and
27:23closing down your opponent's opportunities.
27:25If you can hit a good enough length to reduce their options, then you've got the ability to push up,
27:32anticipate the volley, leave it sat high, left a bit more vulnerable and can't quite be as aggressive.
27:39Speaking of aggressive, there's a little, little bit off the ball there.
27:43He was bumped off on his shot on the back.
27:45It didn't hit his racket, so his swing was affected.
27:48That's because he tried to shut me out, though.
27:542-1 from the right.
27:57Well, the players just had a little chat with each other there.
28:00All looked in good nature, but yeah, he certainly took his space there.
28:05Dussaud.
28:19Dussaud.
28:20Dussaud.
28:32Dussaud.
28:34Dussaud.
28:44Let's go.
29:26Let's go.
29:50Let's go.
29:54Let's go.
30:20Let's go.
30:23Let's go.
30:24Let's go.
30:25Let's go.
30:49Let's go.
31:18Let's go.
31:24Let's go.
31:24Let's go.
31:25Let's go.
31:52Let's go.
31:55Let's go.
32:16Let's go.
32:19Let's go.
32:58Let's go.
33:02Let's go.
33:08Let's go.
33:28Let's go.
33:36Let's go.
33:39Let's go.
34:08Let's go.
34:09Let's go.
34:36Let's go.
34:41Let's go.
35:05Let's go.
35:19Let's go.
35:23Let's go.
35:33Let's go.
35:34Let's go.
35:40Let's go.
35:42Let's go.
35:53Let's go.
35:57Let's go.
36:00Let's go.
36:21Let's go.
36:24Let's go.
36:41Let's go.
36:45Let's go.
36:51Let's go.
36:54Goal.
36:58Oh, what a bow.
37:00That is perfect timing.
37:03Completely rolled.
37:05Camera angle is perfect for that.
37:08Let's see from the other side now.
37:09Oh, I think that's the deadest shot we've seen in the last two weeks
37:16Impossible to retrieve when the ball hits the nick like that.
37:29yeah all the time in the world to load up for that one snaps it across the court again
37:34six game balls the Paul Colt to march away with this second game and a two-love lead with it
37:43he's not even going to chase that look he's really struggling out there two games still
37:49he'll be glad for a couple of minutes just to take in some fluids
38:01what about that for a backdrop here well it's 29 minutes of quality from Paul Colt so far well
38:08and truly in the driving seat as he takes the second game 11-4 and now leads two games to
38:13love
38:22so Paul Colt in the driving seat as we heard there the winner of the New Zealand Open last
38:27week in Christchurch and firmly in control here Ryan Cascali the former world number 12 joins us
38:32in the studio just your thoughts on this match so far as we look back at some of the highlights
38:37yeah I feel Colt's just too solid tonight I feel the sword's got to up the intensity
38:43made a little bit of holding his swing just to break up that movement of Colt just been a bit
38:47too comfortable too easy for Colt at the moment he's obviously got Nela Gillis in his corner she's
38:53safely through to the women's semi-finals in a couple of days time and Paul Colt heading that
38:59way himself here just needs to win this next game and what might she be communicating to him here what
39:04sort of message is going in I think she'll just be saying you know you're doing such a good job
39:07out
39:08there it's tough conditions I'm sure the French boy he's feeling it as well he had a tough match
39:12yesterday so yeah two five setters I think yeah two five setters so he wouldn't be feeling good
39:17yeah the humidity's really high here so yeah I think she'd just be saying stick to what you're
39:22doing and you know get on and get this game done and what's do saw got to do very briefly
39:27what's he
39:27got to do to try and pinch a game I think he's just going to come out all guns blazing
39:31up the
39:31intensity a little bit of hold in his swing mix up those paces and get that ball across
39:36Paul Colt otherwise just down the wall not gonna work 15 seconds to call please
39:51once again everything time the way of Paul Colt looks a million dollars out there on that court
40:01looking strong looking fresh opponent on the other hand he's hanging on by a thread as he left the court
40:10there after the second game Jenny he looked like he was well and truly ready to have a little sit
40:15down
40:15he sure did he was puffing out his cheeks big time I agree with Cusk up in the studio I
40:26think at
40:27this point it's not gonna win a physical battle here it's got a try and rattle for somehow go for
40:34a few
40:34quick winners see one I'll see if anything comes from that chop and change him I said a lot of
40:53joy
40:53with that backhand click both off the bounce and on the volley yeah one oh Jenny how do you see
41:09the fact
41:10that the quarter finalists here today will get tomorrow off because that's the other side of the
41:17draw the bottom side of the draw will play tomorrow and those players will not get a day off from
41:22that
41:22point forward how big a advantage would you say that is for the for the top half of the draw
41:27that
41:27get through today having that day off before semi-finals I'd say it depends on their matches today if you
41:34I
41:35mean every player is slightly different personally if I have a three love win I'm keen to crack on and
41:41play
41:42the semis the next day back in my day we went down split rounds so yeah I mean you'd pick
41:49probably to
41:50have a day off before the semi-finals but at the same time if you're winning comfortably it's nice just
41:57to keep it keep it going depends how energy sapping your matches are and in these conditions I think it's
42:05always going to help to have that that day off yeah quarter-finals tomorrow still got whether they
42:11win three love or not they're still got less time to recover before the semis yeah trying to agree with
42:17that a lot of events would last week we saw the second round split and the quarter-finals all on
42:22one
42:23day which which I actually prefer doesn't always work with scheduling things like daylight if we've done
42:28that here would have had to be an afternoon session with the daylight so not as good conditions but
42:35I'd like to see all semi-finalists having the same amount of break before the match and yeah yeah
42:44that's that's a very good point three two well there's not a lot of room in those shorts you can
42:54see see how much sweat and the grimaces grimacing face of the sword
43:04today is the hottest day or will be the hottest day of the week
43:08he's done him again with it good court services please just in the front right thank you
43:15there's rain due tomorrow which will up the humidity factor so the heat will dip but humidity
43:24I see the front foot slide forward be a good look at that favorite shot thank you just look at
43:32the
43:32athleticism and power and flexibility of Paul Cole just showing how hard this sport is
43:40hand out well this is the outside of the venue here so real thousands of people walk past this every
43:47single day along the riverbank so what a fantastic bit of exposure for squash bring it to the public
43:56hand out you know this place as you walk in past three he plays that shot very well but probably
44:02the sword making that look more deceptive than it actually was whenever I see this angle Paul I just
44:17think as someone that has lived here for 10 years and we've kind of been starved of the top end
44:23of
44:23professional squash just how fantastic it is and enthralling and just how grateful the people here are to have
44:30this level of this level of tournament getting to see these guys and girls are so close in the flash
44:40yes wonderful five three that's the main man bring the energy well he certainly has done that so far
45:02he's done well disorder at the start of every game he's sort of stayed close on the stall on the
45:08scoreline it's just from
45:09this kind of phase Paul Cole pushes on and he saw it comes off the boil a little bit let's
45:16see what happens here
45:35yeah it's been the middle section of the game each time that's kind of knocked the wind out of his
45:40sails
45:41rallies have just been lengthened it's not been negative squash at all you know playing long rallies
45:47doesn't mean you're being defensive still get the intensity high but I guess essentially what you're
45:53doing is refusing to give anything away for free it's just that's what's been happening he sticks in
45:58and then it's just it's just the you say that sort of sustained pressure from call and when he's
46:03from the right had a couple of chances he's just made the error unfortunately for him
46:18six three
46:29Cole's taking an extra second or two there before he starts the rally he looks very focused
46:35we've been talking about that over the last couple of weeks now when was the last time you say he
46:40didn't
46:40look focused well I mean if there's been the recent matches against Mustafa so whereas it's been in the
46:50match in the early stages it's been tough and then he's just sort of fell away as much has gone
46:59on
46:59particularly the last match played in Windy City but certainly the tournament champions in the US Open
47:05were matches where he kind of did lose his composure lost his shape I guess it's easy to do when
47:12you're
47:12up against the best squad player on the planet sorry to interrupt there but that was absolutely sublime
47:18couldn't have got any closer to the team and out four six beautiful
47:27yeah US Open he dropped off a bit quicker than I thought he would in that one
47:32in recent well this week and last week Muhammad al-serti I'm sorry sorry caused them rattles them a little
47:40bit in the first match in New Zealand the brain Egyptian and I'll stop start a fur that one is
47:49certainly not the type of player who said for me in matches where it's stop start and fragmented and
47:56no real rhythm or momentum it's again
48:07it's recovered well got the stroke
48:13it's just in the front of the aspirated there as the referee gives this decision not really sure he
48:20could have expected much else to be quite honest
48:32yeah such a cool thank you cool way to watch that movement into the front of the court in super
48:39slow
48:40motion managed to maintain his balance there which is impressive in itself it was it was impressive to
48:45get back out of that lunge position
48:57well that was zero margin for error there from the sword and how good it's got to be five I
49:02was quick
49:04to see that the ball had been stunned in social no attempt to recover that one
49:13and out nine five
49:26that's a beautiful backhand drops
49:34well in the blink of a night callers now got five match balls it's into that front
49:39left corner again and again down it's another error from the sword didn't really have anything
49:46left to give there towards the back end of every game really
49:5011-5 pressure became too much for him
49:5311-5 physically demanding match
49:56tactics were absolutely perfect at the end of the day there
50:13well as the players shake hands
50:20well we're heading down to the court now to hear from ben abbott and paul cole
50:25paul cole a fantastic victory for you obviously it is hot conditions but incredible form especially off the
50:32back of a victory last week in new zealand open yeah i'm very happy with today i think it was
50:37actually
50:38i played a few hours later but it almost felt hotter i think it was a
50:42a warmer day you know 33 and then the humidity kicks up so
50:45but i i played the first four years of my career
50:48in brisbane normal courts in january so i'm quite familiar with the feeling and
50:52i've had a lot of you know good success in these conditions so feeling comfortable it's hard work but i
50:57love
50:57that and you mentioned you spent a lot of time in brisbane before but a lot of time especially in
51:02your
51:03junior years leading into your senior professional career have you felt the love from the australian
51:07crowd especially here in brisbane 100 last year was amazing they were singing me songs and stuff in the
51:12crowd which was incredible you know aussies love their beer and they got a few under their belt and
51:17it was a great atmosphere so um yeah yeah i lived here for even you know a couple months training
51:22at
51:22the ais so um kind enough to help me out so yeah lots of great memories here in brisbane and
51:27um you
51:28know lots of friends so yeah enjoying it fantastic and next match you will play the winner of the next
51:32match and you will be watching it quite intently i'm sure uh including your training partner in
51:37jonah bryant how do you see that next match unfolding yeah a couple of young guys coming through so it's
51:41awesome for the sport to see that and yeah i train with jonah all the time we've got the same
51:45coach
51:45and he's improving every day fantastic attitude so um you know hopefully money my you know i hope he
51:51hope he wins he's a he's a good maiden training partner and um you know we'll enjoy a good clean
51:55battle out here if he if he gets through but melville's playing some of the best squash of his career
51:59also coming up great young french player so it's going to be a tasty one fantastic ladies and gentlemen
52:04squash fans give it up for paul cole through the semi-finals here in the squash australian
52:08satisfactory satisfactory performance there from paul cole he sounds like he's on top of the world and
52:14really enjoying his time in this part of the world it was pretty much plain sailing from the early stages
52:22of the games were tough but he ran away with it in the end and there we go 40 minutes
52:28it took him to
52:29take out august dussaud 11 5 11 4 11 5
52:43for 40 minutes of fantastic squash from paul cole very business-like performance that we're becoming
52:50very used to seeing august dussaud a match too far for him he's had a great run here as he
52:55did
52:55last year so hopefully he can push on for the rest of the season but all about paul cole conserving
53:01his energy nicely very efficient work looking sharp focus nice little interview as well just reminding
53:07the crowd of his australian connections has spent a fair bit of time here so solid solid stuff
53:15yeah it was so cool to see jenny the kiwi in action on this court once again he just seems
53:21to love it
53:22here and he mentioned that he spent a lot of time in brisbane over his younger squash career
53:28yeah well he actually won this title in 2015 on his way up that was quite a big moment for
53:33him beating
53:34cameron pilly uh in that final which seems like years ago now because it was for 10 years but and
53:40now
53:41he's this accomplished player that looks like he's exactly where he belongs yeah absolutely it's been
53:49a positive stomping ground for in australia the australian opening you're referred to there jenny was
53:56in melbourne at the aquatic center so well done paul call through to a semi-final once again
54:10and the winner of that last match in number one c paul cole joins us in the studio right now
54:14congratulations paul through to the next stage which is always good to get the w under the belt
54:19how did that feel out there tonight to you yeah it was good um first of all i just like
54:23to um say to
54:24the director thomas just give me 10 seconds mate just chill in the background there i was just trying to
54:28grab a grab a glass of water and i heard him through the mic by yelling at me so um
54:32yeah it was hot out
54:33there today mate like the bill was bouncing just a little bit more it was tough to get it to
54:37sit down
54:37in the corners and i sort of lost confidence and really like physically in there quickly but um
54:42yeah i dealt with the conditions well you sometimes you got to do that and he he had a great
54:46tournament
54:46here last year he was tough in the first couple of rounds so um yeah i just wanted to get
54:50you know
54:50business like out there today cusk was watching like an eagle up here in the eagle's nest and i know
54:55he's got a couple of questions here as well yeah loving that backhand mate um i just wondered is
55:00it something you went back to the drawing board and and thought you know obviously playing a soul
55:05something i need to do different to start you know winning tournaments big tournaments again
55:10yeah just trying to get a bit more um obviously i'm you know very good at using my speed and
55:14getting
55:14on the ball quick but just trying to get a bit more record head speed behind the ball from sort
55:18of mid
55:18court and even from the back of the court just to mix up the pace of my hitting so um
55:23yeah nothing too much
55:24just you know you know trying to get more color on the ball and um actually watching your highlights
55:28versus rami at the british open popped up on my thing so i was you know inspired by the uh
55:32the aussie
55:33wrist today don't make me feel good mate what positives will you take away from today to take you
55:39through to you've got a rest day tomorrow obviously that's great and these conditions are like we
55:42haven't played in anything like this but but what else will you take away from that match tonight yeah yeah
55:47um yeah i felt physically completely fine i had another five years to go through so
55:52that's the hottest day we're going to get i dealt with it well like it was just about sweat management
55:56everything was wet so i was trying to you know deal with keeping things dry and cooling down but
56:01like i said physically i i had a lot more gears to go through so that you know gives me
56:05confidence that
56:05later in the week and you know less hot conditions i'll be should be fine life safely through as well
56:10you guided her through i saw you doing some some good ice pack work for her in the first match
56:14but
56:14great to have nayla alongside you in the semi-finals yeah she played great she was hitting the ball um
56:18really
56:19crispy actually and that's it's tough on in these conditions you can get a bit tentative sometimes
56:23when you're hitting i thought she hit the ball beautifully it was putting a little bit more
56:27pace on the ball which i think she needed she needed to do today and she executed it perfectly um
56:32first
56:32set i thought she got some dodgy calls but she mentally handled it really well so um great performance
56:37from her and you know she'll be firing in the semis final question of the night with the big world
56:42open this year if it happens in egypt is this your year yeah i'm going all guns mate uh taking
56:47the whole
56:48team whole squad there it's going to be tough and obviously in egypt but these sort of conditions
56:52i'm you know using as preparation for that obviously it's similar heat outdoors not quite as humid but
56:57you know the balance of the balls the same so trying to stay positive in my squash and in the
57:01hot
57:01conditions and i go from there will you go from here and play optasia as well or will you take
57:05a
57:05little break after this one having done a silver event at home last week onto australia here gold
57:10event will you go and play the gold event in london no i've got my brother's wedding back in new
57:14zealand so i'm heading straight back to new zealand for 10 days which will be nice and have a bit
57:18of
57:18a break and then um you know go straight to egypt if uh everything happens uh according to plan with
57:24what's going on but yeah back back to new zealand a little you know a little training block before
57:28al guna then um a little break in a training block before uh wills awesome well enjoy the wedding best
57:33of luck congratulations to him and we look forward to seeing you over in egypt thank you cheers paul colt
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