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Carol Owens returns
by Elspeth Burnside Oct 10, 2001 © 2001 Elspeth Burnside and Squashtalk
[last update was 17-oct-01 ]

Women's World Round Two, Men's Challenger day one.

CAROL OWENS RETURNS, LOOKS FORWARD TO FITZ-GERALD CLASH

Melbourne, Oct 15 2001.

Carol Owens, making her first return to Australia since 'defecting' to New Zealand last month, was as much relieved as delighted after she continued her defence of the women's World Open with a devastatingly impressive second round win over England's Rebecca Macree today at the Sports and Aquatics Centre in Melbourne. The no 2 seed took just 20 minutes to crush Macree, who plays despite being almost totally deaf, 9-0 9-0 9-3 and set up a quarter-final against another English player, the 1999 champion, Cassie Campion.

Owens, who comes from Melbourne but has lived in Auckland for over two years, was scared she might face the wrath of the local fans following her change of allegiance. The reason behind the switch is that she claimed she was not getting the support or recognition that she deserved in her native Australia. Already, she has her sights on a semi-final against fellow-Melbourne native and her great rival, Sarah Fitz-Gerald.

"I really want to play Sarah; she's always been the one in Australian squash, but I want a chance to let the racket do the talking," said the determined 30-year-old. "I've been pleasantly surprised by the welcome I've received this week. "A lot of people have said they fully understand my decision, and I've received a lot of support. I've also got the Kiwis shouting for me as well, so it's double good."

Fitz-Gerald, a three time former champion who has reclaimed the world no 1 ranking following two knee operations, also cruised through. She beat Vanessa Atkinson, from the Netherlands, 9-4 9-0 9-0 to advance to a last eight tie with England's Sue Horner.

Campion, who was undergoing a back operation when Owens replaced her as world champion in Edinburgh, Scotland, last November, showed her best form this year in beating Australia's Rachael Grinham 9-4 9-2 9-1. She headed a great day for the English with another four - Linda Charman-Smith, Fiona Geaves, Suzanne Horner and Stephanie Brind also making it into the last eight. And Vicky Botwright raised hopes of making it six English when she surprisingly took the first game against the no 1 seed, Leilani Joyce. But it proved to be just a wake-up call for the New Zealander as she hit back to win 7-9, 10-8,9-2,9-0.

"Vicky has improved a lot since I last played her, and I think I underestimated her," admitted Joyce.

WSF MEN'S WORLD CHALLENGE
Preston Quick, a member of the USA side for next week's men's world team championship, failed to make it past the first round of the WSF World Challenge. The American fell 9-4, 9-4, 9-3 to the no seven seed from South Africa, Rodney Durbach.

Results (seedings in brackets)

Women's Worlds Second round:
(11) C Campion (Eng) bt (8) R Grinham (Aus) 9-4, 9-2, 9-1;
(2) Carol Owens (Aus) bt 10) R Macree (Eng) 9-0, 9-0, 9-3;
(3) S Fitz-Gerald (Aus) bt (9) V Atkinson (Ned) 9-4, 9-0, 9-0;
(7) S Horner (Eng) bt (12) P Nimmo (Sco) 9-2, 3-9, 9-6, 9-4;
(1) L Joyce (NZL) bt (13) V Botwright (Eng) 7-9, 10-8, 9-2, 9-0;
(5) F Geaves (Eng) bt (15) N Grinham (Aus) 9-4, 1-9, 9-2,9-2;
(4) L Charman-Smith (Eng) bt N David (Mas) 9-3, 9-1, 9-2;
(6) S Brind (Eng) bt S Kitchen (NZL) 9-7, 9-2, 10-8

Results (seedings in brackets)

Men's Melbourne Challenger First round:
(10) Manoor Zaman (Pak) bt Scott Huffer (Australia) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0;
Craig van der Wath (RSA bt Cameron White (Australia) 9-3, 9-3, 10-8;
(13) Weel Habim El Hindi (Egy) bt Michael Toothill (RSA) 9-5, 9-2, 9-2;
(7) Rodney Durbach (RSA) bt Preston Quick USA) 9-4, 9-4, 9-3;
(16) Shahier Razik (Can) bt Kimihoka Sano (Jap) 10-8, 9-5, 9-4;
Ajaz Azmat (Pak) bt Yap Kok Four (Mas) 10-8, 9-6,9-3