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Sarah Fitz-Gerald

{{Short description|Australian squash player}}

{{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox squash player

| name = Sarah Fitz-Gerald

| image = Sarah Fitz-Gerald.jpg

| caption = Fitz-Gerald in 2015

| nickname =

| birth_name = Sarah Elizabeth Fitz-Gerald

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1968|12|1}}

| birth_place = Melbourne, Australia

| based_at =

| height =

| weight =

| event = Women's singles

| country = {{AUS}}

| years_active =

| turnedpro = 1988

| racquet = Dunlop

| coach = Roger Flynn &
Mike Johnson

| highest_ranking = 1

| date_of_highest_ranking = November 1996

| retired = 2003

| played =

| titles =

| finals =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport | Women's squash }}

{{MedalCountry | {{AUS}} }}

{{MedalCompetition | World Championships }}

{{MedalGold | 1996 Petaling Jaya | Singles }}

{{MedalGold | 1997 Sydney | Singles }}

{{MedalGold | 1998 Stuttgart | Singles }}

{{MedalGold | 2001 Melbourne | Singles }}

{{MedalGold | 2002 Doha | Singles }}

{{MedalSilver | 1995 Hong Kong | Singles }}

{{MedalBronze | 1989 Warmond | Singles }}

{{MedalBronze | 2000 Edinburgh | Singles }}

{{MedalCompetition | World Team Championships }}

{{MedalSilver | 1987 Auckland | Team }}

{{MedalGold | 1992 Vancouver | Team }}

{{MedalGold | 1994 Guernsey | Team }}

{{MedalGold | 1996 Petaling Jaya | Team }}

{{MedalGold | 1998 Stuttgart | Team }}

{{MedalSilver | 2000 Sheffield | Team }}

{{MedalGold | 2002 Odense | Team }}

{{MedalGold | 2004 Amsterdam | Team }}

{{MedalGold | 2010 Palmerston | Team }}

{{MedalComp|World Doubles Championships}}

{{MedalSilver|2006 Melbourne|Doubles}}

{{MedalCompetition | World Games }}

{{MedalGold | 1997 Lahti | Singles }}

{{MedalCompetition | Commonwealth Games }}

{{MedalGold | 2002 Manchester | Singles }}

{{MedalSilver | 1998 Kuala Lumpur | Singles }}

{{MedalBronze | 1998 Kuala Lumpur | Doubles }}

| show-medals = no

| updated = 12 April 2022

}}

Sarah Elizabeth Fitz-Gerald AM (born 1 December 1968) is an Australian former professional squash player who won five World Open titles – 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002. She ranks alongside Janet Morgan, Nicol David, Susan Devoy, Michelle Martin and Heather McKay as the sport's greatest female players of all time.

Career

Fitz-Gerald was born in Melbourne, Australia, a hotspot for squash talent. In 1987, she won the female World Junior Championship and was the Australian Junior Female Athlete of the Year. It was also during this year that she represented Australia at the 1987 Women's World Team Squash Championships, finishing runner-up to England.{{cite web |url=http://www.squashnz.co.nz/content/docs/about_us/archive/Annual_Reports/Squash%20New%20Zealand%20Annual%20Report%201987.pdf |title=Draw and Results |publisher=Squash New Zealand |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125052756/http://squashnz.co.nz/content/docs/about_us/archive/Annual_Reports/Squash%20New%20Zealand%20Annual%20Report%201987.pdf |archivedate=25 January 2016 }} In 1992 she was selected once again to represent Australia in the 1992 Women's World Team Squash Championships and this time Australia became the world champions. Remarkably, Fitzgerald would go on to win a total of seven World Team Championships.

She won numerous titles in the early 1990s, but 1996 proved to be her breakthrough year. She beat England's Cassie Jackman in the World Open final. The next two years she beat the resurgent Michelle Martin in successive finals.

The next two years did not bring the same level of success, owing largely to knee surgery. In 2000, she lost an epic semi-final against Carol Owens. However, she came back in 2001 to beat New Zealand's Leilani Joyce emphatically 9–0, 9–3, 9–2.

2002 saw her win her last World Open, beating Natalie Pohrer 10–8, 9–3, 7–9, 9–7. She also won a gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.

In January 2004, Fitz-Gerald was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her achievements and services to women's squash, and the promotion of sport and a healthy lifestyle. She was Chairwoman and President of the Women's International Squash Players Association from 1991 to 2002. In 2010, she was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.{{cite web |url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/sarah-fitz-gerald/|title=Sarah Fitz-Gerald |publisher=Sport Australia Hall of Fame |accessdate=25 September 2020}}

Fitz-Gerald announced her retirement from the Women's International Squash Players Association (WISPA) world tour in February 2003.{{Cite web |title=Sarah Fitz-Gerald {{!}} 5-Time World Squash Champion {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sarah-Fitz-Gerald |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}

In 2010, she came out of retirement to be part of the Australian team that won the gold medal at the 2010 Women's World Team Squash Championships.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldsquash.org/irish-eyes-are-smiling-in-new-zealand-but-only-just/ |title=Australia Reclaim World Team Title in New Zealand |website=World Squash |date=4 December 2010 |access-date=20 December 2022}}

In 2018, she won her fourth World Masters title.

Career statistics

=Professional Tour Titles (60)=

All results for Sarah Fitzgerald in WISPA World's Tour tournament[https://www.squashinfo.com/player-719 SquashInfo: Sarah Fitz-Gerald][http://www.wispa.net/rankings.asp Women's International Squash Players Association] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621064100/http://www.wispa.net/rankings.asp |date=21 June 2009 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.squashtalk.com/html/history/sarahfitz1.htm |title=WISPA titles earned by Sarah Fitzgerald. |publisher=Squashtalk.com |accessdate=17 May 2009}}

style="width:43%;"
valign=top width=35% align=left |

{| class="wikitable"

! Legend

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

| WISPA Platinum Series (2)

style="background:Cornsilk"

| WISPA Gold Series (9)

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| WISPA Silver Series (14)

style="background:White;"

| WISPA Tour Series (35)

| valign=top width=33% align=left |

class="wikitable"

! Titles by Major Tournaments

World Open (5)
British Open (2)
Hong Kong Open (0)
Qatar Classic (1)

|}

class="sortable wikitable"

! No.

! Date

! Tournament

! Opponent in Final

! Score in Final

style="background:White;"

| 1.

| 13 June 1989

| Adelaide Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Sharon Bradey

| Unknown

style="background:White;"

| 2.

| 24 November 1991

| Danish Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Lisa Opie

| (3–0)

style="background:White;"

| 3.

| 28 June 1992

| Japan Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Lisa Opie

| (3–0)

style="background:White;"

| 4.

| 26 July 1992

| ACT Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Robyn Lambourne

| (3–0)

style="background:White;"

| 5.

| 25 July 1993

| ACT Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Carol Owens

| 15–8, 9–15, 15–13, 15–7

style="background:White;"

| 6.

| 10 July 1994

| Adelaide Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Vicki Cardwell

| 15–13, 15–9, 15–8

style="background:White;"

| 7.

| 18 June 1995

| South Australia Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Vicki Cardwell

| (3–0)

style="background:White;"

| 8.

| 22 July 1995

| Victorian Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Meeghan Bell

| (3–0)

style="background:White;"

| 9.

| 22 July 1995

| Queensland Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Liz Irving

| (3–0)

style="background:White;"

| 10.

| 10 September 1995

| JSM Supersquash

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michelle Martin

| 9–6, 8–10, 2–9, 9–6, 9–4

style="background:White;"

| 11.

| 16 September 1995

| Jain International

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michelle Martin

| (3–0)

style="background:White;"

| 12.

| 17 March 1996

| Abshot Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Suzanne Horner

| (3–0)

style="background:White;"

| 13.

| 28 July 1996

| Victorian Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Carol Owens

| (3–0)

style="background:White;"

| 14.

| 17 August 1996

| Singapore Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michelle Martin

| Walkover

style="background:White;"

| 15.

| 13 October 1996

| World Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Cassie Jackman

| 9–4, 9–2, 4–9, 9–6

style="background:White;"

| 16.

| 10 November 1996

| German Masters

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michelle Martin

| 9–6, 3–9, 9–4, 9–3

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 17.

| 23 November 1996

| Monte Carlo Classic

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Cassie Jackman

| 9–4, 9–2, 4–9, 9–6

style="background:White;"

| 18.

| 11 May 1997

| Las Vegas Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Liz Irving

| 9–3, 9–1, 9–4

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 19.

| 17 June 1997

| Al-Ahram International

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michelle Martin

| 9–3, 9–3, 9–0

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 20.

| 22 June 1997

| Munich Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michelle Martin

| 9–7, 9–7, 9–2

style="background:White;"

| 21.

| 17 August 1997

| World Games

| {{flagicon|GER}} Sabine Schoene

| 9–2, 9–6, 9–7

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 22.

| 24 August 1997

| Singapore Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michelle Martin

| 9–1, 5–9, 9–1, 9–7

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 23.

| 30 August 1997

| Malaysian Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michelle Martin

| 9–2, 0–9, 9–2, 8–10, 9–7

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

| 24.

| 19 October 1997

| World Open (2)

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michelle Martin

| 9–5, 5–9, 6–9, 9–2, 9–3

style="background:White;"

| 25.

| 26 October 1997

| Australian Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michelle Martin

| 5–9, 9–4, 9–4, 9–0

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 26.

| 3 November 1997

| Carol Weymuller Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michelle Martin

| 9–3, 7–9, 9–0, 3–9, 10–8

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 27.

| 17 November 1997

| Hartford Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Cassie Jackman

| 9–4, 9–7, 9–3

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 28.

| 29 November 1997

| Monte Carlo Classic

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Sue Wright

| 9–1, 4–9, 9–1, 9–4

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 29.

| 20 April 1998

| Munich Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Michelle Martin

| 9–2, 9–0, 10–8

style="background:White;"

| 30.

| 10 May 1998

| Las Vegas Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Stephanie Brind

| 9–0, 9–3, 9–3

style="background:White;"

| 31.

| 9 August 1998

| Victorian Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Carol Owens

| (3–1)

style="background:Cornsilk;"

| 32.

| 8 November 1998

| World Open (3)

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michelle Martin

| 10–8, 9–7, 2–9, 3–9, 10–9

style="background:White;"

| 33.

| 16 January 2000

| Glidden Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Suzanne Horner

| 9–1, 9–0, 9–7

style="background:White;"

| 34.

| 23 January 2000

| Greenwich Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Suzanne Horner

| 9–6, 9–0, 4–9, 9–7

style="background:White;"

| 35.

| 5 February 2000

| Rosebowl Classic

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Sue Wright

| 9–3, 5–9, 9–4, 10–8

style="background:White;"

| 36.

| 16 April 2000

| Munich Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Carol Owens

| 9–7, 9–5, 9–0

style="background:White;"

| 37.

| 30 April 2000

| Mexican Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Rachael Grinham

| 9–7, 9–6, 9–2

style="background:White;"

| 38.

| 24 September 2000

| Singapore Open

| {{flagicon|RSA}} Claire Nitch

| 9–1, 9–1, 9–4

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 39.

| 8 December 2000

| USC Classic

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Carol Owens

| 3–9, 9–3, 9–6, 9–1

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 40.

| 28 January 2001

| Greenwich Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Linda Charman-Smith

| 9–5, 9–2, 9–4

style="background:Cornsilk;"

| 41.

| 11 March 2001

| Munich Open

| {{flagicon|NZL}} Leilani Joyce

| 9–1, 9–2, 9–6

style="background:White;"

| 42.

| 19 April 2001

| World Grand Prix Finals

| {{flagicon|NZL}} Leilani Joyce

| 9–6, 9–5, 9–1

style="background:White;"

| 43.

| 12 May 2001

| San Francisco Challenge

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Cassie Campion

| 7–9, 9–4, 9–5, 9–2

style="background:Cornsilk;"

| 44.

| 20 May 2001

| Seattle Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Carol Owens

| 9–6, 9–7, 9–2

style="background:Cornsilk;"

| 45.

| 10 June 2001

| British Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Carol Owens

| 10–9, 9–0, 9–2

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 46.

| 4 September 2001

| Heliopolis Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Cassie Campion

| 9–3, 9–1, 9–1

style="background:Cornsilk;"

| 47.

| 8 October 2001

| Qatar Classic

| {{flagicon|NZL}} Leilani Joyce

| 9–0, 9–2, 9–1

style="background:Cornsilk;"

| 48.

| 19 October 2001

| World Open (4)

| {{flagicon|NZL}} Leilani Joyce

| 9–0, 9–3, 9–2

style="background:Cornsilk;"

| 49.

| 20 January 2002

| Hartford Open

| {{flagicon|NZL}} Carol Owens

| 2–9, 9–4, 9–7, 9–1

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 50.

| 1 February 2002

| Tournament of Champions

| {{flagicon|NZL}} Carol Owens

| 9–4, 9–0, 9–3

style="background:Cornsilk;"

| 51.

| 15 April 2002

| British Open (2)

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Tania Bailey

| 9–3, 9–0, 9–0

style="background:White;"

| 52.

| 28 April 2002

| World Grand Prix Finals

| {{flagicon|NZL}} Carol Owens

| 6–9, 5–9, 9–5, 9–7, 9–4

style="background:White;"

| 53.

| 12 May 2002

| San Francisco Challenge

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Tania Bailey

| 9–1, 7–9, 9–1, 9–2

style="background:White;"

| 54.

| 19 May 2002

| Las Vegas Open

| {{flagicon|NED}} Vanessa Atkinson

| 9–4, 9–2, 9–0

style="background:Cornsilk;"

| 55.

| 26 May 2002

| Seattle Open

| {{flagicon|NZL}} Carol Owens

| 9–7, 9–7, 9–1

style="background:White;"

| 56.

| 30 June 2002

| Australian Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Laura Keating

| 9–0, 9–2, 9–0

style="background:#dfe2e9;"

| 57.

| 14 September 2002

| French Open

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Linda Elriani

| 10–8, 5–9, 9–4, 10–8

style="background:#e5d1cb;"

| 58.

| 2 November 2002

| World Open (5)

| {{flagicon|USA}} Natalie Grainger

| 10–8, 9–3, 7–9, 9–7

style="background:White;"

| 59.

| 22 August 2004

| Victorian Open

| {{flagicon|NZL}} Louise Crome

| 9–1, 9–4, 9–5

style="background:White;"

| 60.

| 13 May 2007

| Top End Open

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Peta Hughes

| 9–1, 9–3, 9–0

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.sarahfitz-gerald.com/ Official website]

{{S-start}}

{{S-sports}}

{{succession box

| before = Michelle Martin
Leilani Rorani
Natalie Grainger

| after = Michelle Martin
Carol Owens
Carol Owens

| title = World No. 1

| years = November 1996 – October 1998
October 2001 – October 2002
December 2002 – February 2003

}}

{{S-end}}

{{Squash World Number Ones (women)}}

{{British Open squash women's singles champions}}

{{Squash World Open women's champions}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitz-Gerald, Sarah}}

Category:1968 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian female squash players

Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia

Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Australia

Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Australia

Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in squash

Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in squash

Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in squash

Category:Commonwealth Games squash players for Australia

Category:Squash players at the 1998 Commonwealth Games

Category:Squash players at the 2002 Commonwealth Games

Category:World Games gold medalists for Australia

Category:Medalists at the 1997 World Games

Category:Members of the Order of Australia

Category:Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Squash players from Melbourne

Category:Sportswomen from Victoria (state)

Category:Medallists at the 1998 Commonwealth Games

Category:Medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games

Category:20th-century Australian sportswomen

Category:21st-century Australian sportswomen