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 Glidden Classic at Southport CT Fitz-Gerald raced through the tournament field, winning her quarter final contest 27-0 over Pamela Nimmo and today defeating Suzanne Horner in straight games.
"Australia's former world squash No1 Sarah Fitz-Gerald has marked her comeback
in dramatic style by emphatically winning the Women's Glidden Open in
Connecticut, USA, to gain her first WISPA World Tour title since claiming the
World Open title for the third successive year in November 1998.
"The 31-year-old from Melbourne was competing in the event as a qualifier
following her return to the Tour after an eight-month layoff due to surgery
on her left knee. Fitz-Gerald powered her way through the event without
dropping a single game, and followed her whitewash of Scotland's 4th seed
Pamela Nimmo in the quarter-finals in Southport with a decisive 9-1 9-0 9-7
final victory in 26 minutes over England's top seed Suzanne Horner, the world
No6 from Wakefield in Yorkshire.
"Fitz-Gerald played too hard and tight in the first two games and left Horner
at the starting line way before she had a chance to settle down. The
Australian's consistent attacking boast, which confounded all of her
opponents during the event, was deadly in the final, creating openings one
after the other. By the third game, however, Suzanne was fighting back. The
English player came out punching with a 2-0 lead - then Fitz-Gerald pulled
off five straight points and one hand out to lead 6-2. The gritty Yorkshire
woman fought back once again and tied the game at six-all with pin point
accuracy on a few straight back hand drop shots from behind the box. Three
exciting rallies later took Fitz-Gerald to match ball, which she converted at
the second attempt to achieve her glorious victory." (excerpted from WISPA press release)
After the match Fitz-Gerald allowed that, "I felt pretty good out there. Suzanne got into it in the third game, and even though I held the lead she was pushing me in that game. But its a good win for me and good for my confidence going into Greenwich next week.
"The Glidden Open provided an invaluable opportunity to acquire world ranking
points," said Fitz-Gerald, now ranked a lowly 38 in the world. "This is part
of my long-term rehabilitation program which will give me the best possible
preparation to retaining the World Championship later in 2000."
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.