Sarah Fitz-Gerald:
November Player of the Month

Sarah Fitz-Gerald achieved the world # 1 ranking in November 1996 after winning her first World Open. Then, in late 1998 she suffered a serious knee injury - followed by a recurrance in April 99. Beginning 2000 at world #38, she steadily worked her way back up the rungs and she finally re-took the #1 position in October 2001. She followed that with a record-tying 4th World Open in October in Melbourne

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By Ron Beck

Getting inside the mind of a champion is always difficult. In Sarah Fitz-Gerald's case, the drive, determination and mental toughness that has brought her 48 tour wins, four World Open Titles, the British Open and more seems well hidden beneath a straightforward and self-effacing exterior. A modest and friendly demeanor belies her fiercely competitive drive on-court.

Fitz-Gerald gives no quarter --- against all but her top three rivals, her average

... that intense concentration

match time is less than thirty minutes, and she typically surrenders less than ten point in an entire match, consistently match after match, event after event. That accomplishment is only possible through intense concentration, desire, and dedication.

Continuing Drive to Excel
And her drive to achieve and excel has not been satiated. Last year, Fitz-Gerald traveled the globe, spending time with the top squash coaches of the decade --- squash minds like Jonah Barrington, Mike Way, and others --- in her quest for improvement.

Through the late '90s, Fitz-Gerald's drive to the top was fuelled by her exciting rivalry with hall-of-fame fellow-Aussie, Michelle Martin. Probably the singnature moment of that intense series was Sarah's famous comeback from 0-8 in the fifth game of the '98 world championships in Stuttgart, to snatch victory that time from Martin.

World Champions from Australia gather in Melbourne:
Heather McKay, Sarah Fitz-Gerald, Vicki Cardwell, Carol Owens

Love for the Game
Sarah Fitz-Gerald has an affection for squash that she cannot hide. What strikes the spectator is how much she loves to play. And she applies that infectious enthusaism as a tireless promoter of the Women's game, traveling the world on behalf of WISPA to spread the word about squash. While many of the top pros, women and men alike, "pick their spots" --- appearing in only the top prize money events, Fitz-Gerald has taken a dramatically different approach. Whether her top rivals (Australia's Carol Owens, New Zealand's Leilani Joyce, and England's Cassie Campion) are in the draw or not, Fitz-Gerald plays as often as she can, both for her love of the competitive fray, as well as for the positive benefits that she knows a tournament obtains with a World Champion in the draw.

Sarah's Thoughts
We were able to interview Sarah after her World Championship win in Melbourne, to find out how she felt and what her future goals are;

Fitz-Gerald at Grand Central Terminal, Feb 2001

SquashTalk: what's your next milestone -- are you going for the 50 win record, the Commonwealth games, where next?

Sarah: I certainly plan to play the WISPA Tour in 2002 and represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. If I continue to play well then the record of most WISPA Title wins will happen on its own, which will be a bonus.

2002 is a big year with a British Open, Commonwealth Games and a World Championships and a team event to contend as well as my national title of the Australian Open. I look forward to the year --- as 2001 has been so successful for me. I will enjoy another opportunity for another exciting and busy year.

SquashTalk: Are you taking a month off --- you've skipped a few events upcoming?

Sarah: After winning the Worlds I only had a few days to decide about entering Monaco, but I elected to miss it and enjoy my win and continue with league and exhibitions instead. 2002 starts off with a bang with a busy schedule in the USA in January and February, so after my mini-break, I have time to train again and prepare for the new year. The growth in Women's Pro Events in America is really exciting for the sport, and I'd like to focus on those at the beginning of the year.

SquashTalk: What about your competition --- it seems like you are missing Michelle Martin as a foil --- the current rivals are having trouble giving you a strong fight?

Fitz-Gerald versus Leilani Joyce at the 2001 British Open

Sarah: When I play, I try to be the best I can be. I have nothing to prove except to myself and now I can sit back and watch the girls figure out how to catch me, which is a challenge in itself for them and for me to stay to ahead of the pack.

My rivalry with Michelle was intense, but in time I am sure a new rivalry with Cassie, Leilani and others will soon develop, so at present, I am enjoying the breathing space I have had recently.

SquashTalk: how long do you think you will keep competing?

Sarah: I certainly see my self competing in 2002 and 2003. So long as my brain and body stay in one piece, I still love the competition and travelling, I will continue to play and make the most out of my career.

SquashTalk: Any thoughts about up and coming new players?

Sarah: There seems to be a few young and exciting players emerging. I think we will see a surge of quality players from Egypt's junior ranks, but I will sit back and watch with interest. I just hope I retire before they have the chance to beat me.

SquashTalk: Your next steps?

Sarah: My next steps is to continue on the road I am already on for a couple more years and then branch out but still stay involved in squash as it has been my life since I was 6 years old. I would like to coach or manage an Australian Junior or Senior team. I have some ideas in incubation now, but it's still the time for me to focus 100% on playing.


With Mother and friend Paul Walters in Melbourne, with World Trophy		Against hometown and worldwide rival - Carol Owens from Melbourne.

Against Cassie - British Open '01		Spreading the Squash Story in Kenya - '01


Dominates prodigy Nicol David - Munich '01	British Open '01	Sarah Take's Qatar Title, '01

	Reflecting on tour	With SquashBusters Program in Boston

Sarah Fitz-Gerald: November Player of the Month

Sarah Fitz-Gerald:
November Player of the Month