Sarah Fitz-Gerald
Sarah Fitz-Gerald (born
December 1,
1968) is an
Australian
squash player who is a perhaps the greatest of the
1990s, collecting five
World Open titles – 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002. She ranks alongside
Susan Devoy,
Michelle Martin and
Heather McKay as the sport's greatest players.
Sarah was born in
Melbourne,
Australia, a hotspot for squash talent. In 1987 she won the World Junior Championship and was the Australian Junior Female Athlete of the Year. She won numerous titles in the early
1990s, but 1996 proved to be her breakthrough year. She beat
England's
Cassie Jackman in the World Open Final. The next two years she beat the resurgent
Michelle Martin in successive finals.
The next two years did not bring the same level of success, owing largely to knee
surgery. In 2000 she lost an epic semi-final against
Carol Owens. However, she came back in 2001 to beat
New Zealand's
Leilani Joyce emphatically 9-0, 9-3, 9-2.
2002 saw her win her last World Open, beating
Natalie Pohrer 10-8, 9-3, 7-9, 9-7. She also won a gold medal at the
2002 Commonwealth Games in
Manchester,
England.
In January 2004, Sarah was awarded the
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her achievements and services to women's squash, and the promotion of
sport and a healthy
lifestyle. She was Chairwoman and President of the
Women's International Squash Players Association from
1991 to
2002.
* 1996:
Won (beat
Cassie Campion)
* 1997:
Won (beat
Michelle Martin)
* 1998:
Won (beat
Michelle Martin)
* 1999: -
* 2000: S/F (lost to
Carol Owens 6-9, 5-9, 9-7, 9-5, 6-9)
* 2001:
Won (beat
Leilani Joyce 9-0, 9-3, 9-2)
* 2002:
Won (beat
Natalie Pohrer 10-8, 9-3, 7-9, 9-7)
*
Official website
