Squash player Paul Coll triumphed at the 2025 Motor City Open in Detroit, winning his first title of the PSA Squash Tour season.
Coll defeated Mexico’s Leonel Cardenas in a hard-fought, 91-minute match on Sunday, finishing with scores of 8-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9. This victory marks the 32-year-old Kiwi’s 26th career PSA Tour title.
Coll, ranked fourth in the world, was the favourite to win after the withdrawal of four-time champion Diego Elias. However, Cardenas pushed him to his limits during the intense match held at the Birmingham Athletic Club. Coll admitted it had been a challenging week, saying, “I haven’t been on my top form, but I’m very proud of how I got through it mentally.”
Despite trailing after the first game and facing a game ball in the second, Coll displayed remarkable determination. He praised Cardenas’ performance, noting his opponent’s endurance and strong play. “He never gave me any cheap errors,” Coll said, adding that it was a tough battle from start to finish.
This victory is especially meaningful for Coll, as it came in his third final appearance at the Motor City Open.
