Kiwi squash player Paul Coll has claimed the biggest scalp of his career, beating top seed Karim Abdel Gawad in the first round of the US Open in Philadelphia.

Ranked 10th in the world but unseeded at the tournament, Coll produced a gritty performance to win in four games in 74 minutes.

Coll has labelled it one of the most significant wins of his career.

He says he's known for a long time that he'd be playing the Egyptian and created a game plan that would allow him to beat him.

Coll faces 31st-ranked Omar Mosaad from Egypt in the second round.

Joelle King won her first round match in the women's draw.