Three times World Champion Fitz-Gerald, who in an illustrious career has now accumulated over thirty (30) World Tour titles - more than any other current player - was forced to enter the event's qualification to earn the right to compete in the championship's main draw.

After dropping only a single point in the qualification competition, Fitz-Gerald dominated all of her opponents, losing only twenty points throughout the entire Championship.

Her first round opponent, world number 26 Senga Macfie, couldn't find the key to pressing Fitz-Gerald, only able to earn two (2) points in the entire match, 9/1 9/1 9/0. In the quarter finals, Fitz-Gerald played Scottish Number one and World number 17 Pamela Nimmo, one the of the Tour's most improved players, and who in the recent British Open lost to Fitz-Gerald in a closely fought and competitive match. A mark of Fitz-Gerald's improved fitness and match concentration was a 9/0 9/0 9/0 score line, achieved by ruthless, attacking squash, combined with fluent court coverage - which have been hallmarks of her success throughout her career.

In the semi-finals, Fitz-Gerald comprehensively beat World Number 12, Rebecca Macree, giving up only ten (10) points (9/0 9/4 9/6), before facing the most experienced player on the WISPA World Tour, World number 6, current World Masters Champion and the Glidden Open number one seed Suzanne Horner in the final. Horner's form throughout the Championships had also been impressive, and a capacity crowd had expected a long and competitive match.

Fitz-Gerald's form was irresistible, and the Glidden Open title was secured inside thirty minutes for the loss of only eight points - 9/1 9/0 9/7.

Fitz-Gerald, who in 1999 was unable to defend her three consecutive World Championship wins, remains determined to re-establish her prominence in the women's game and commented after the Championships: "The Glidden Open provided an invaluable opportunity to acquire world ranking points, and is part of my long-term rehabilitation program which will give me the best possible preparation to reclaiming the World Championship later in 2000."

Fitz-Gerald attributes her dramatic improvement to a new fitness regime and state-of-the-art weights program. "Although winning the Glidden Open has given me a major confidence boost, the bigger picture is retaining my World Championship title and number one ranking, and although my matches required 100% focus, continuing my daily pre-match weight training gave me total confidence in my fitness and strength. I am particularly pleased to have won this Championship whilst adhering to my long-term fitness program. I'm looking forward to playing in my next tournament and competing against the very best."

Fitz-Gerald looked a lot fitter and more sure of her footing last weekend than she did at her first competition after her injury, the British Open in mid December.

Fitz-Gerald will next compete in the Greenwich Open, Connecticut (18th to 23rd January), an event at which she will again have to qualify, before returning the Europe to continue her training and fulfil several promotional commitments for her sponsors Dunlop.

Sarah Fitz-Gerald, is a thirty-year old professional women's squash rackets player from Melbourne, Australia. Sarah is the winner of over 30 WISPA (Women's International Squash Professionals Association) titles over a period of 10 years, and is also the 3-time women's world champion. Sarah held the #1 ranking position from 1996 through early 1999 but she underwent knee surgery in May, 1999 following withdrawal from the WISPA Grand Prix Finals last May. She began competition again at the 1999 British Open Championships in mid December, reaching the second round and in her next tournament, won the WISPA Germain Glidden Open in Southport Connecticut on January 17, 2000. Sarah Fitz-Gerald, also the current president of WISPA, resides in Melbourne, Australia. Her principal tour sponsor is Dunlop Squash.