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Sarah Fitz-Gerald Collects another World Title

Australian squash star Sarah Fitz-Gerald added another milestone to her sterling career Saturday when she beat England's Natalie Pohrer in today's (Saturday) final of the $102,500 Qatar Women's World Open Championship in Doha - to win the world title for a record fifth time. Fitz-Gerald may have found a new top rival, as St. Louis-based Pohrer was able to push Fitz-Gerald to the limit.

In a highly competitive final, favourite Fitz-Gerald was two games up and leading 6-1 when the English third seed fought back - despite both players regularly slipping as a result of excessive condensation on the court floor.

Pohrer, who had reached the final after defeating New Zealand's current world No1 Carol Owens in the semi-finals, took the third game and led 3-2 in the fourth
when officials called the players off in order to allow the air-conditioning to cool the court and the auditorium.

Play resumed after a ten-minute break and the Australian raced to an 8-3 lead and her first match-ball. Pohrer salvaged a further four points, but eventually tinned the third match-ball as Fitz-Gerald secured her historic victory 10-8, 9-3, 7-9, 9-7 in 86 minutes.

"This is very, very special," said the five-times world champion, who has now
amassed a total of 61 WISPA World Tour titles during her career, including 12
this year! "My big thing for 2002 was winning the Commonwealth Games title,
and I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I achieved that in July. Afterwards, I wasn't even sure if I would compete in Doha - but I'm very glad I did, and to have claimed another record makes it even better.

"It was hard out there today - and I am very proud of Natalie, whose name I'm sure will be on this trophy soon," Sarah continued. "This has been a great year for me - and a great way to finish it, as I am taking a break now and can think of no better title with which to end it!" Fitz-Gerald will be passing up the US Open that kicks off in Brooklyn NY in about a week's time.

The South African-raised and now US-based runner-up was pleased with her
performance: "When I heard earlier in the week that Sarah might not have
been able to get here in time, due to the cancellation of her flight from England, I was gutted - as I wanted to play her in this tournament," said Pohrer.

"Despite having a hard match yesterday, I felt good this morning. However,
she didn't give me an inch on that court today - and, while I was close, I
just wasn't close enough."

This win begins to put Fitz-Gerald in the same class as New Zealand's Susan Devoy, who owned the British Open for a long period of time, and Australia's Heather MacKay, who had an even stronger British Open record.

RESULTS: Qatar Women's World Open Squash Championship, Doha, Qatar

Final:
[1] Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS) bt [3] Natalie Pohrer (ENG) 10-8, 9-3, 7-9,
9-7 (86m)

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