The Rosebowl Classic brings Fitz-Gerald's total World Tour Titles to thirty-three (33), more than any other active player.

An arduous playing itinerary saw Fitz-Gerald beat World number four (4), Natalie Grainger in a Dutch National league fixture only twenty-four hours before competing in the Rosebowl event. Fitz-Gerald arrived in England on the morning of her first round match and had too much power for Kate Allison of England, easily defeating her 9/4, 9/2, 9/2 in thirty minutes.

In the quarterfinals, Fitz-Gerald beat the number one (1) seed and World number twelve (12) Rebecca Macree three games to love (10/8, 9/1, 9/3), and progressed to the semifinals were she met one of the games rising stars, Janie Thacker of England. Thacker fought hard and played intelligently to take the third game but had no answer in the deciding fourth game to her opponent's greater accuracy, power and speed. Fitz-Gerald progressed to the final, winning 9/6, 9/4,8/10,9/2.

In the Final, Fitz-Gerald faced tough competition from England's in-form Sue Wright of England, who in January defeated world number one Cassie Campion.

Fitz-Gerald won the first game 9/3, and leading 3/2 in the second game, suffered an injury to her back which not only resulted in her losing the second game 5/9 but was to impair her movement for the remainder of the match. Despite Wright's determination to capitalise upon her opponent's misfortune, Fitz-Gerald won the third game 9/4, and the fourth game 10/8 after recovering from 4/8 and saving three game points.

Fitz-Gerald's forty-seven (47) minute 9/3, 5/9, 9/4, 10/8 victory captivated a sell-out partisan crowd and demonstrated her ferocious determination to re-establish her prominence in the women's game. "The standard of competition was very high, and there were no easy matches. I am very pleased to have won, particularly after having to overcome the injury to my back, which was restricting my movement. Sue was making very few mistakes and at times I had to dig deep to win"

Fitz-Gerald will next compete on the WISPA tour in the Bavarian Open, in Munich, Germany (13th to 16th April).

Sarah Fitz-Gerald, is a professional squash player from Melbourne, Australia.

Sarah is three-times World Squash Champion and winner of thirty-three (33) Women's International Squash Player Association (WISPA) World Tour titles, making her the most successful present day player.

After holding the #1 ranking position unbroken for two (2) years, Sarah underwent knee surgery in December 1998 and May 1999, returning to competition in 2000 winning the WISPA Glidden Open and Greenwich Open in the USA, and Rosebowl Classic in England.

Sarah Fitz-Gerald is the current president of WISPA, and her principal equipment sponsors are Dunlop rackets and Hi-Tec shoes.

For further information, visit www.squashtalk.com/sarahfitz

or email: sarah_fitz_press@mindspring.com

6th February 2000