New Zealand's Paul Coll reached a Professional Squash Association World Tour Platinum final for the first time ©PSA

New Zealand's Paul Coll reached a Professional Squash Association World Tour Platinum final for the first time by beating Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad at the Windy City Open.

The world number five and fifth seed won the last four clash 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 at the University Club of Chicago.

Coll, the World Championship runner-up last year, knocked out Egypt's world number one Mohamed ElShorbagy in the last eight.

His last four triumph over the 2016 world champion and fourth seed means he will face another Egyptian in the final, top seed Ali Farag.

"It was quite draining, it was very tense at the end there," said Coll.

"I thought I had won it three times at the end but the ref disagreed, which is fine. 

"I just had to keep my head which was mentally really draining. 

"Right at the end there I just wanted to celebrate but I had to keep my emotions in check and finish the match off.

"I am trying to constantly learn and improve my game, I am not number one for a reason and there are areas of my game that I can improve on. 

"I will keep doing that and hopefully I can reach the top. 

"I have found a great coach and I have a great team behind me, it will be my first platinum final tomorrow and I will be enjoying it."

Reigning world champion Nour El Sherbini battled into the women's final ©PSA
Reigning world champion Nour El Sherbini battled into the women's final ©PSA

Farag, the 2018 world champion, booked his place in the final by seeing off compatriot and reigning world champion Tarek Momen.

He came through in straight games against the third seed, 12-10, 11-2, 11-8.

The women's final will be an all-Egyptian affair as the sport's powerhouse came to the fore.

Top seed Raneem El Welily, the 2017 world champion, knocked out compatriot Nouran Gohar 11-5, 11-8, 11-9.

She will meet reigning and four-time world champion Nour El Sherbini, the second seed, in the final after her 11-7, 11-4, 11-8 win over England's eighth seed Sarah-Jane Perry.

"I have been struggling against her a few times, but I was making sure that every time I play her that I have a game plan and I stick to it," said El Sherbini, who had lost three of her previous four matches against Perry.

"To be honest, it is not one of the best weeks for me, but I am glad that I won and I am in the final. 

"Whatever is happening, I just have to keep winning, that is it. 

"I just have one more match, one more day to live and I hope it is going to be a good one."

Both finals will take place tomorrow.