Sarah Fitz-Gerald Announces her return to tour

SARAH FITZ-GERALD RETURNS TO THE WOMEN'S TOUR.

After eight months of enforced absence from the World Tour, Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the three times World Squash Champion and former World No1, plans to make her competitive come back at the British Open, in Aberdeen, from the 6th to 12th December.

In order to give herself the best possible preparation to retain the World Championship, in which she remains unbeaten since 1996, Fitz-Gerald has based herself in Berkshire, England, to be with her long time coach Mike Johnson.

After a frustrating 1999 in which she has endured two operations to repair cartilage damage to her left knee, Fitz-Gerald was unable to defend her three consecutive World Championship wins, but remains determined to re-establish her prominence in the women's game.

"1999 has been an incredibly frustrating year for me. I will be returning to the World Tour with new enthusiasm and new goals," claimed Fitz-Gerald. Sarah will only take a short break from training in March to return to her hometown of Melbourne, Australia, to receive the 'Athlete of the Year' Award from the Victorian Institute of Sport, an acknowledgement of her domination of the sport in recent years.

"My time off the court has given me increased opportunities to put something back into the sport," added Sarah. "I am fortunate that, as President of the Women's International Squash Players Association, I have been involved in many exciting new initiatives to promote the women's game. Recently, these have included promotional activity in the Czech Republic, representing WISPA at the World Squash Federation (WSF) AGM in Egypt, and playing a leading role in the promotion of the International Festival of Squash, to be held in Melbourne in 2001."

Fitz-Gerald's unrivalled profile in the women's game has recently helped her secure a new sponsor, Gatorade, which complements support from Dunlop, Hi-Tec and Qantas Airlines - her long term racket, shoe and travel sponsors, respectively - all of whom she has been with throughout her career.

In 2000, Sarah's professional playing commitments leading up to the World Championships, scheduled for Cairo in October, will see her competing across all five continents and adding to her 30 Tour titles.

"As I return from injury, I am determined to fulfill my potential as a professional, both on and off the court, and play my part in the world wide development and promotion of the women's game."

Issued on behalf of Sarah Fitz-Gerald by Howard Harding

For further information: Howard Harding Email: HowHard@aol.com

23 November 1999