Joel Makin falls to Diego Elias as Fares Dessouky downs Paul Coll in Zurich

By Alan Thatcher

October 22, 2022 - 3:23am

0 comments

By ALAN THATCHER (Squash Mad Editor)

Wales’ world No.9 Joel Makin fell in straight games to U.S. Open champion Diego Elias and world No.2 Paul Coll was beaten in three by Fares Dessouky in the quarter-finals of the Grasshopper Cup in Zurich.

Peruvian Elias, the only non-Egyptian left in the men’s draw, meets Marwan ElShorbagy in the semi-finals of this PSA Gold tournament with Dessouky up against Mostafa Asal.

Elias got the better of Makin in straight games on the way to his title win in Philadelphia and continued that consistency in the best-of-three scoring format employed in Zurich’s Halle 622 venue resulting in an 11-7, 11-9 victory.

Makin wanted to his impose his long-game tactics on Elias but the new world No.3 moved the ball around the court at a comfortable pace and interrupted his opponent’s rhythm with some deft holds and flicks.

After losing the first game, a determined Makin threatened to take the second before Elias finished strongly to win the game and the match by a two-point margin.

Elias said: “Joel is a very tough player and in a best-of-three he was going to start at 100 per cent and keep going the whole time. I was happy I could finish the rallies and I felt good with my game today.

“That second game was very tough. I was behind for most of the game. I’m just happy I put a lot of work in his legs at the start of the game and he started to slow down a little bit and that’s when I could win some quick rallies.”

He's on home soil, and he is getting the crowd going!