SquashTalk>Women's World Open >Womens World Team Final: Sarah Fitz-Gerald

[last update was 27-nov-00 ]

Sarah Fitz-Gerald provides her account of the World Teams finals.

11.26.00 by Sarah Fitz-Gerald

Eye Group Women's World Open Squash Championship, Sheffield, UK

AUSSIE'S FALL JUST SHORT
Today's final was filled with an air of anticipation, everyone wondering if the Aussies could do it again and for a fifth time.

Natalie Grinham took to the court first. Unfortunately for us, she was beaten comfortably by Tania Bailey. That was an expected result, though, given Tania's recent results.

I was up next against Linda Charman. All the pressure was on for me to performance to the same level as the World Open individual where I beat her to 4 points. Especially, I had put pressure on myself.

I managed to play really well in patches and won the this important match to tie the score 1-1.

Robyn Cooper was formerly World No 12 (before she retired from active WISPA competition) and was up against the current No 12 Stephanie Brind.

Robyn had a fantastic opportunity to bring the title home but after two years away from the international squash circuit her match practise and match fitness was a little low.

Robyn really took the game to Brind and had her on the ropes plenty of times with her length and volley game plan, but was unable to maintain it into the third game.

Brind forced the pace in the fourth and carried the title home for England.

We as an Australian team are proud of our effort, as many people thought we would only place fourth or fifth. We played out heart out and did amazingly well for the team we selected and our circumstances.

For the complete results go to www.squashtalk.com/womensworld

Sarah and Linda in the finals(photo by Fritz Borchert, © 2000)