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SquashTalk>News >Finals [last update was 12-mar-01 ]

WISPA Munich Open 2001 -

Sarah Fitz-Gerald dominates Leilani Joyce

Squashtalk News © 2001 Squashtalk
By Ron Beck for Squashtalk © 2001

Photos © 2001 Fritz Borchert and Munich-squash-open.de

WOMEN'S MUNICH OPEN - BIG WIN FOR SARAH FITZ-GERALD

[SquashTalk Munich Open DRAW and Coverage]

"She was too good for me today, just too strong," said Leilani Joyce immediately after losing to Sarah Fitz-Gerald in three games at the Munich Open.

The matchup drew a lot of local media attention and it was the perfect stage for Sarah Fitz-Gerald to show how far she's come back after surgery and extensive rehab work on her knee.

"I was playing really well today," said an ecstatic Fitz-Gerald, "I'm really happy about it. I cam out really hard and strong and Leilani couldn't do anything about it in the first two games."

Fitz-Gerald's excitement came through clearly as she finally got an opportunity to show her many skeptics wrong. Last year in this event, at the beginning of her comeback, she also defeated Cassie Campion, at the time #1, and Carol Owens.

Sarah said, "My form this year is the culmination of months on the practise court and in the gym. My performances in the Munich Open have given me considerable satisfaction. I am confident I can make further improvements in my game and look forward to challenging the worlds best players in the lead up to the World Championships to be held in my home town of Melbourne in October"

After totally keeping Joyce at bay in the first two games, Leilani came out strongly in game three and took a 5-0 lead. At that point said Fitz-Gerald, "I just settled down and put myself back in charge.

"But she's such a great player - she'll go back and figure out how to challenge me next time around -- maybe in Hurghada."

The Hurghada event, featuring the world's top 8 women, has now been pushed back to mid April.

Final results: [see draw sheet]

Sarah Fitz-Gerald (Aus) def Leilani Joyce (NZ) 9-1, 9-2, 9-6