February 14th, 2017

Chris Hollow reports from Cambridge Club
The first match of the afternoon featured World Rank #15 Ryan Cuskelly against WR#8 Tarek Momen. 

 Momen came out of the blocks quickly, moving Cuskelley around.  The first game stayed tight through the middle section, tied at 6-6, until Momen ratcheted up the pressure down the stretch to win game one 11-9.  Despite an unlikely reliance on the working boast, the young Egyptian had the measure of his opponent through the next game, keeping his nose ahead all the way up to take game two 11-9.  The Australian gave a push in the third, tightening up his shots to the side wall and forcing errors out Momen.  But Momen’s combination of speed and power would prove to be too much for Cuskelly in the end, losing the game three and the match by a score of 11-9, 11-9, 11-9.
Superman Paul Coll brought the exciting brand of squash that made him the PSA’s Most Improved Player of 2016 to the court next, up against Mexican WR #25 Cesar Salazar in the second match of the afternoon.  Coll put on a display early, showing us the shots and physicality that’s propelled him to number 15 in the world.  

Coll kept his opponent guessing with his quickness and disguise.  Salazar, filling in for the injured Mathieu Castagnet, is no stranger to Toronto squash, having competed in the 2015 Pan-Am games.  Up against a strong, surging opponent in the young Kiwi, he wouldn’t find much joy this afternoon.  
Coll won the battle of the possession, controlling the lion’s share of the rallies.  Salazar put up a valiant effort but had a tough time contending with the range Coll showed under pressure, somehow defending and neutralizing from under extreme pressure.  In the end it was a dominant performance by Coll, winning 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-9).
Earlier in the day some of the pros held a Junior Jam at the club …