Crouin Topples Title-Holder Coll To Reach Qatar Classic Semis

World No.5 Victor Crouin ended world No.2 Paul Coll's title defence at the 2026 QTerminals Qatar Classic with a stunning four-game victory at the Platinum-level event in Doha.

The Frenchman, who was comprehensively beaten by Coll in the London Classic final less than a fortnight ago, avenged that defeat with an inspired performance, coming from a game behind to defeat the No.2 seed by a 4-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9 scoreline.

The 2022 Qatar Classic runner-up appeared to be on the receiving end of another imposing Coll performance in the opening game, but raised his intensity and accuracy as the contest progressed, putting the defending champion under increasing pressure.

After assuming a 2/1 lead, the 27-year-old maintained his composure in a tight fourth game, clinching two points from 9-9 to close out a memorable victory after 84 minutes of play.

After the match, Crouin said: "I'm very proud. Paul has been setting the bar so high at the beginning of the season.

"I thought I was playing well in the first game, but I knew I had to play better. I'm super proud of myself for sticking at it and going until the very end.

"My former Harvard coach always told me you always have to pop the confidence bubble before you have a chance to win, and I think I did that when I won the second - that gave me a chance to get through and take the win."

Crouin will face 2016 Qatar Classic champion Karim Gawad in the semi-finals, after the world No.4 overcame Egyptian compatriot Youssef Soliman in a brutal three-game duel.

The first game-and-a-half of Gawad's victory was vintage, with the 35-year-old dominating the contest with his silky skills and courtcraft. However, Soliman grew into the contest and the pair engaged in a mammoth 46-minute third game.

It was Gawad, though, who managed to hold his nerve, converting his fourth match ball to seal a hard-fought victory.

In the women's draw, England's Jasmine Hutton advanced to her maiden Platinum semi-final on the PSA Squash Tour following a four-game victory over tournament surprise package Rachel Arnold.

Arnold entered the quarter-final contest on the back of a huge upset win over eight-time World Champion Nour ElSherbini, but the world No.25 couldn't replicate those heroics in a hit-and-miss display on the all-glass court at the Khalifa International Squash Complex.

World No.12 Hutton delivered a power-packed performance full of accurate attacking play, and aside from a third-game drop-off, was thoroughly deserving of the 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4 victory.

"Rachel's a great friend, but she's such a threat to so many players," Hutton said after the match. "As you could see there, she's such a threat to so many players from anywhere on the court. That makes players spot edgy because there's just no rhythm.

"It's a privilege to get this high in the world rankings. It's a privilege to be playing in an era of squash that's so incredible, and there are so many amazing athletes right now. One step at a time. If I keep playing like this, then everything will take care of itself."

Hutton's opponent in the semi-finals will be world No.2 Amina Orfi, who battled past former junior rival Fayrouz Aboelkheir in a hard-fought three-game battle.

Despite the straight-games scoreline, the match was fiercely contested, with Orfi having to show impressive mental resilience to fight back from significant deficits in all three games.

Orfi now stands just two matches away from potentially becoming the youngest women's world No.1 in history, with the 18-year-old needing to better the result of current world No.1 Hania El Hammamy, who will also feature in today's semi-finals.