Sarah Fitz-Gerald, who spend the New Year's holiday at Bowdoin College in Maine, preparing for the January tournament swing working out with fellow Australian Sharon Bradey, re-emerged into the thick of WISPA action quietly, demonstrating on court her fitness to compete.
In the quarter finals, Fitz-Gerald downed Scotland #1, Pamela Nimmo, without losing a point. She gave up more points in the semi finals, but dispatched Rebecca Macree quickly and appears ready for a test against world #6 Suzanne Horner.
Fitz-Gerald's chances against Horner look good, as Horner displayed some suspect mobility in her earlier semi final match against Seattle's Latasha Khan.
Khan appeared to have an opportunity for a big upset against Horner, as she had played well defeating USA's Ivy Pochoda and then Karen Hargreaves. But Khan may have been somewhat to anxious to capitalize on Horner's lack of mobility, and her anxiousness translated into over-aggressive shot making and resulting unforced errors.
Although the scores make it look like Horner had an easy time of it, in reality Khan looked poised to take the third game. Reaching 4-4 in the third, Khan had Horner worried with a string of long, well constructed rallies. But Khan again got over-anxious and her errors on apparent put-aways gave the match to Horner. Horner shouldn't look for the same charity from Fitz-Gerald Sunday afternoon.
Fitz-Gerald's chances against Horner look good, as Horner displayed some suspect mobility in her earlier semi final match against Seattle's Latasha Khan.