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Carol Owens, Tired of
#2, searching for #1
Profiled by Ron Beck, April 2002
copyright © 2002, Squashtalk. Reproduction prohibited. Photos
by Fritz Borchert © 2002
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| Carol
Owens Born: Melbourne, Australia Resides: Aukland, New Zealand Age: 26. WISPA ranking: 2. Highest ranking: 2 |
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This fiercely competitive and determined Australian, now playing for New Zealand, seems often misunderstood on the WISPA circuit. Owens, yet another superlative player from the Australian squash programs, has clearly established herself over the past year as the best player on the circuit outside of fellow Melbourne native Sarah Fitz-Gerald.
In fact, it is Carol Owens long-time rivalry with Sarah Fitz-Gerald that adds the most intrigue to Owens' persona on tour and provides the most drama for the tour itself in 2002. Owens won't speak much about the rivalry, but makes it clear that her training and competitive play is focused and planned around her encounters with Fitz-Gerald.
Owen's greatest squash moment came two years ago in Edinburgh when
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| Carol Owens dominates Vicky Botwright |
she earned the Women's World Title, first outduelling four-time world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald in five games in the semi finals and then denying World #1 (at the time) Leilani Joyce in the finals. But since that event, Owens has been unable to master Fitz-Gerald again, giving up the Women's World crown to Fitz-Gerald in their native city of Melbourne last November, in which she took only seven points from Fitz-Gerald in a semi-final loss, then losing a 75 minute four game marathon encounter to Fitz-Gerald in Hartford CT USA in January before surrendering to Fitz-Gerald in three games in New York's Weymuller Cup.
In comparing Owens and Fitz-Gerald it is difficult to point out substantial differences in their games. Both players offer an athletic style, are excellent retrievers and excel at shot placement and selection. Where Owens favors a more scrambling game, featuring boasts, drops and court coverage; Fitz-Gerald tends toward reliance on power and volleys. It is when Owens can neutralize Fitz-Geralds power-drives and keep Fitz-Gerald from wholescale volleying that she has had success. Because of Owens' reliance on her counterpunching and short game, she needs to be totally mentally focused to succeed in these showdowns with Fitz-Gerald.
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| Carol Owens on her way to a win over Fitz-Gerald in the 2000 Women's World Open |
Owens and Fitz-Gerald began playing squash at the same club and in fact were coached initially by the same mentor — Sarah Fitz-Gerald's mother. Out of those same beginnings emerged two extremely well rounded competitors and entirely different individuals.
Owens tends to be quiet and reserved off court, while Fitz-Gerald enjoys playing the squash ambassador. While Fitz-Gerald is often around the tournament venues between matches, Owens rarely is.
Owens has been largely silent on the subjects of her change in National Flag from Australia to New Zealand last year and her sometimes quick losses to Fitz-Gerald, preferring to let her racket speak for her. What is clear is that Fitz-Gerald and Owens need each other — a somewhat balanced competitive picture is healthy for the tour and Owens is one of the few individuals fully capable of pressing Fitz-Gerald.
Carol Owens clearly has an approach and record to be proud of. She has largely dominated players beyond Fitz-Gerald and has a total of thirteen WISPA titles to go along with her World Open 2000 Tropy.
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