World Champion Challenge 2001
Fitz-Geraldcompletes a 4-0 sweep  28-Sep

Sheffield - 28-Sep
Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS) bt Cassie Campion (ENG)
9-2, 9-0, 9-5 (35 minutes)

Three times World Champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald tonight (Friday) collected yet another straight-games victory, 9-2, 9-0, 9-5 over her rival and 1999 World Champion Cassie Campion. The win brings to a conclusion the series of head-to-head matches staged across England this summer and fall, collectively termed the World Champion Challenge. Fitz-Gerald completed the challenge series with a 4-0 record over Campion.

"I was determined not to let up in our final matchup tonight" said
Fitz-Gerald in a post-match interview. "Cassie Campion can at any time use her attacking game to gain the momentum, so I needed to keep the pressure on throughout.  I was pleased to come away with the win and the series. Tonight Cassie pushed really hard in the third game, taking a 5-4 lead before I was able to re-take the initiative."

The World Champion Challenge, featuring two of the generally recognized top players in the women's Squash game today, was conceived as a way to bring top-level women's squash to fans across England.  In any given year, the top women usually only face off in England during June's British Open.  This provided four additional top level matchups to show squash fans the high level of competitiveness and athleticism present in the women's pro game today.

Fitz-Gerald and Campion both now fly immediately to Qatar for the upcoming Qatar Open Squash Championships, featuring most of the top women players in the world.

Norwich - 27th Sep
World Champion Challenge, Norwich University, Norwich UK:
Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS) bt Cassie Campion (ENG) 9-4, 9-4, 9-5 (38 minutes)

British No. 1 and 1999 World Champion Cassie Campion carried leads into the middle of all three games against three times World Champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald tonight, but Fitz-Gerald charged back in each game to chalk up another straight-games victory over her rival. Fitz-Gerald won, 9-4 9-4 9-5 in the third World Champion Challenge held Thursday night at Norwich University. She now leads the head-to-head series 3-0 going into the final match tonight at Sheffield.

"Cassie played me very tough tonight. She played much better than last evening" said a happy Fitz-Gerald after the match. "Campion took the match to me, taking a lead in every game, forcing me to adjust and come up with a formula for coming from behind. I felt that at the end of each game my stronger fitness came through."

The 28-year-old England star Campion said "Sarah again showed me her consistency tonight. I felt I was a strong threat in each game. I look
forward to our fourth matchup tonight."

The World Champion Challenge, featuring two of the generally recognized top players in the women's Squash game today, concludes Friday at Hallamshire Squash Club in Sheffield.

Tynemouth - 25th Sep
Sarah Fitz-Gerald took a 2-0 lead in the World Champion Challenge series against Cassie Campion, with a 9/4 9/1 9/4 33-minute victory Tynemouth.

Fitz-Gerald got off to a brisk start, establishing a 7-1 lead in the first game that Campion threatened but couldn't retrieve. Fitz-Gerald dominated the second, but Campion took a 4-1 lead in the third before Fitz-Gerald regained control to close out the match in front of an appreciative Tyneside audience.

"I was happy with my form tonight", said Fitz-Gerald. "I lost concentration a couple of times, but was able to refocus and impose my game, which was good. If we meet in Melbourne it will be in the semis and Cassie is getting stronger all the time, so I'm pleased to have put down a marker."

"I've still got a bit of work to do before the Worlds," said Campion. "I played well in patches tonight, and felt I was competing in most of the rallies, but Sarah had the edge when it mattered. It's all about trying to peak for Melbourne, and hard matches are what I need, so I'm looking forward to the other challenges later this week."

The evening also featured a presentation to Northumbria champion John Dale, who was struck down with a brain tumour six months ago. Benefits around the country have raised in excess of £6,500 for John, who is recovering sufficiently to appear at the challenge with Sarah, Cassie and local TV personality Roger Tames.

September 2001 Challenges

Sarah Fitz-Gerald (4)
v
Cassie Campion (0)


Fitz-Gerald moves to 2-0 ...

CHECK OUT THE
LIGHTER SIDE
OF THE CHALLENGE
AT
 www.tynemouthsquash.com

28th July
SARAH FITZ-GERALD BEATS CASSIE CAMPION IN 1ST WORLD CHAMPION CHALLENGE

World Champion Challenge, St Mellons Country Club, Cardiff, Wales. Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS) bt Cassie Campion (ENG) 9-3 9-4 9-1 (40minutes)

Three times World Champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald recorded an impressive 9-3 9-4 9-1 victory over British No1 and 1999 World Champion Cassie Campion in the first World Champion Challenge held in conjunction with Squash Wales at St. Mellons Country Club.

Fitz-Gerald approached the first head-to-head meeting of the world's two leading players boasting ten successive titles (including the Welsh Open in April), and quickly demonstrated her determination to impose her game in very hot and exhausting conditions by taking the ball early and attacking the back corners of the court with ferocious hitting. Campion's response was to play a more measured all-court game but was unable to maintain the same level of consistency as her Australian opponent.

"Cassie showed tonight why she is such a great player and one of my toughest opponents" said an upbeat Fitz-Gerald after the match. "In such hot and difficult conditions, it was important to win the first game and overall I was very pleased with my fitness and speed after an intensive summer of training."

The 28-year-old England star Campion added "Although I am disappointed to have lost today, our first World Champion Challenge was a great success. The support in Wales has been fantastic and very successful in raising the profile of not only Sarah and I but also the women's game in general. My appetite for the game and my hunger for success is as great as at any time of my career, and I can't wait for the next World Champion Challenge to hopefully gain my revenge."

As part of a comprehensive weekend of squash, both players also played games with twenty-four of Wales' leading junior girls to help promote an already thriving junior membership.

The World Champion Challenge series is supported by Dunlop, Hi-Tec Sports, e-Squash & SquashDiscount.com and hosted at key squash venues around the UK.

 


Fitz-Gerald moves ahead in challenge

Following the success of the first World Champion Challenge held in conjunction with Squash Wales at St. Mellons Country Club in Cardiff, leading women players Sarah Fitz-Gerald & Cassie Campion have announced new venues and dates for their series of head-to-head matches:

1999 World Champion and Britain's most successful ladies player Cassie Campion, announced after their first challenge match "I am disappointed to have lost our first match, but the World Champion Challenge proved a great success. The support in Wales was fantastic and the event was very successful in raising the profile of not only Sarah and I but also the women's game in general. My appetite for the game and my hunger for success is as great as at any time of my career, and I can't wait for the next round of World Champion Challenge matches to hopefully gain my revenge."

At the announcement of the new World Champion Challenge dates in September, Fitz-Gerald said, "Cassie showed at the British Open and in our first World Champion Challenge match why she is such a great player and one of my toughest opponents. I cannot wait to play at Tynemouth, Norwich & Hallamshire when Cassie & I can hopefully show how competitive and attractive the women’s game is at present.”

Ian Johnson of SquashDiscount.com added "We are excited at the level of interest that the World Champion Challenge has generated, and hope that with the continued support of Dunlop, Hi-Tec Sports and e-Squash that the latest dates announced for September help further in making squash more accessible to fans all around the UK."

Full details of each Challenge will be posted here

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