SquashTalk> Features >Player Profiles >WISPA Players >Tania Bailey (England)

SquashTalk Player Profiles

Profile Index
PSA players
WISPA players
Hall of fame players
College players
Junior players
Teaching pros

Player of the month

Tania Bailey: On the Verge of Greatness.
profile courtesy Dunlop Squash (8/1999) photo Ron Beck, 1999

SQUASHTALK TODAY
WISPA Vassar
NAO Doubles
WISPA Greenwich CT
WISPA Rye NY

RECENT EVENTS
Junior Mens Worlds
Men's World Open
US 5 Man Teams
Weymuller US Open

CURRENT CONTENT
Hall of Fame
News Index
Club Links
Gear Links
E-boast Newsletter
    (sign up now free)

Tania Bailey is one of the squash stars of the next century. The 19-year-old from Lincolnshire in England burst onto the world scene when she became Women's World Junior champion in Rio de Janeiro in August 1997 - and then led England to success in the World Junior Team Championships.

Tania is the fourth of a 'Grand Slam' of world champions using Dunlop rackets, including men's world champion Jonathon Power, women's world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald, and men's world junior champion Ong Beng Hee.

Tania enjoyed a glittering junior career. In 1995 she won both the British National U-16 and British Junior Open U-16 titles. Two years later, in January 1997, she reached the British Junior Open U-19 semi-finals, where she lost in five games to long-time Belgian rival and eventual champion Kim Hannes. Two months later, however, Tania gained her revenge by beating Hannes in the final of the European Junior Championships in Finland - and then went on to clinch the world title in Brazil in the summer.

The 18-year-old achieved her final junior glory by winning the British Junior Open U-19 title the following January in Sheffield, England. Still at school, Tania was determined to complete her studies before being drawn into the life of a professional.

Tania lost no time in establishing herself on the WISPA World Tour. In her first senior pro tournament, the Exterieur Open in Germany in August 1998, she fought through the qualifying rounds, then trounced 4th seed Maha Zein of Egypt in the first round and France's Isabelle Stoehr in the last eight to reach the semi-finals. Here she faced the experienced No1 seed and England compatriot Suzanne Horner, who went on to win the title.

"I was really pleased with my debut as a full-time player - I was determined to get some world ranking points as soon as possible, but didn't expect to achieve so much so quickly!" said Bailey, who charged straight into the WISPA world ranking list at 79.

Only a few months later she forced her way into the first round of the Women's World Open in Germany after surviving four rounds of qualifying matches. Her opponent was compatriot Jenny Tranfield - Bailey fought back from two games down against her world top 20 opponent to cause the first real upset of the tournament with a 0/9 2/9 9/6 9/4 9/5 win.

"I will never forget the next match - against my idol Sarah Fitz-Gerald, who was the No. 1 seed and defending world champion," Bailey recalls. "Here I was on this fantastic court, with TV cameras everywhere, playing the world's best player - it was a really big occasion. I lost, of course, but it was a really enjoyable match."

In January 99, still only months after going full-time, Tania won her first WISPA tournament - the Midlands Open in England. Seeded four, she recovered from a two-game deficit to beat Scotland's 2nd seed Senga Macfie in the semi-finals, then dismissed another Scot Claire Waddell in straight games in the final.

Two months later, Bailey played her "best tournament so far" when she reached the final of the Art of Squash in Denver, Colorado - where she also played at altitude for the first time. After upsetting 2nd seed Rebecca Macree in the quarter-finals, Tania beat a second English player Janie Thacker, the 3rd seed and fellow Dunlop player, in five games in what she describes as "one of the best matches I have ever played."

The rapidly-maturing Bailey then returned to England, and claimed her second WISPA title in three months when - against the seeding - she lifted the Duffield Morson International trophy. The success of the past few months propelled the world junior champion from 50 in the WIPSA world rankings to 22.

Bailey's rapid progress on the world circuit led to her being selected for the England team for the European Championships in Linz at the end of April - her senior international debut. "This was the highlight of the year - playing for England's senior team has always been one of my main goals, but I didn't expect my dream to come true so soon," said an ecstatic Bailey. "Playing at this level taught me a lot, and despite the fact that we won the title for a record 21st time, the pressure was on us all the time."

Since then, Tania has been undergoing a rigorous 10-week training programme in preparation for the new season. Guided by England coach Paul Carter and fitness expert Damon Brown, she has been working three sessions a day, including track work, weight training in a gym, and on-court activity.

"It's harder than anything I've done before, but it's been really worthwhile," said Tania, who travels south to Potters Bar, near London, to work with Carter three-times a week. "Nowadays, I seem to spend most of my time in a car, travelling to training sessions or events."

Tania has signed a long-term racket contract with Dunlop. "Joining the biggest and most active brand in the sport is a great career move for me - and I look forward to a long-time association which I hope will be equally rewarding, both for me and for Dunlop," she said.

"My ultimate aim is to become world champion, when Sarah Fitz-Gerald eventually hangs up her rackets!"

Tania's immediate ambitions are a world top 16 ranking by the end of the year - and "with a lucky draw, a place in the last eight in the World Open in Seattle in October."
"I'm also hoping to be able to train with Sarah Fitz-Gerald when she returns to England to prepare for the tournaments at the end of the year," Bailey added.

SquashTalk women's news and information

Women's World Open
WISPA USA May 02
WISPA Grand Prix 02
British Open 02
Hurghada 02
Heliopolis 02
Texas Open 02
Weymuller 02
Hartford 02
Melbourne 01
Qatar Classic 01
Heliopolis 01
Cathay Pacific 01
WISPA Munich Open
WISPA players
Women's Squash Videos
Sarah Fitz-Gerald Columns
Camps 2002
Rankings
Upcoming Tournaments

Squashtalk.com All materials © 1999-2003. Communicate with us at info@squashtalk.com.
Published by Squashtalk LLC, 95 Martha's Point Rd. Concord MA 01742 USA, Editor and Publisher Ron Beck,
Graphics editor Debra Tessier Send comments, ideas, contributions and feedback to the webmaster.
Copyright © 1999-2003 SquashTalk, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced in any form except for one-time personal use.