Fitz-Gerald completes stunning comeback ...

Defending champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald retained her World Open title with a 10-9 in the fifth victory over new World #1 Michelle Martin, denying Michelle a clean sweep of 1998 titles.

 

Match Points
"Give that match to a sports psychologist to explain," was the comment of one seasoned observer. It was the match of the year, no doubt about it, perhaps the women's match of all time. Either player could have won. It was a match that fluctuated dramatically. But why? Ian McKenzie risks asking the difficult questions. Full Story

Draw and Results


Final:
Sarah Fitz-Gerald staged one of the great comebacks of all time when she saved seven matchballs in the fifth game of the final of the World Open to beat Michelle Martin 10/8 9/7 2/9 3/9 10/9 in one hour and 22 minutes. The 29-year-old defending champion from Melbourne looked to be heading for her tenth loss to Martin this year as she squandered her two game advantage and faced matchball at 8/2 in he fifth game. "I remember wondering whether it was possible to come back from this position," said Fitz-Gerald after the match. "I didn't want to make it easy for her - I was determined to put the occasion out of my mind, telling myself to treat it as a practice match back at Caversham (the Reflex Club in Berkshire, England) where I train." Martin, 31, had six matchballs before Fitz-Gerald climbed back to 8-8, and then Martin called 'set two'. She won back the service and took the next point for a further matchball at 9/8, before Fitz-Gerald took the next two to sensationally clinch the title for a third successive year.

It was Fitz-Gerald's second title win in Germany this year, and the 30th WISPA World Tour title of her career. "It certainly makes up for all the other losses to Michelle this year," said the ecstatic new world champion.  Match Points

Semi-Finals:
Defending champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald will meet world #1 Michelle Martin in the World Open final tomorrow. Martin has won nine of their ten encounters this year and will be hoping to complete her successful season with a full set of major titles. Fitz-Gerald though is keen on emulating Martin's record of three successive world crowns, so an epic battle is in prospect.

Carol Owens v Sue WrightQuarter Finals:
Suzanne Horner escaped an attacking blitz from the young Stephanie Brind when she came back from 2-1 and 5-3 down to rescue her World Open quarter-final match 9/7 2/9 7/9 9/5 9/6. Brind faltered after hitting out of court at 5-3 in the fourth after a long delay to find the ball, warm a new one and then continue with the old when it was eventually found! She never regained her length, conceded strokes and allowed Horner the front court to slam hard drives away. "I'm disappointed, but it has been a tough tournament" said Brind of her giant-killing exploits. "I got tired and didn't rally. Still, it's been a good tournament for me - I'm up there".

Both semi-finals will be Australia v England clashes, with Horner meeting world #1 Michelle Martin, who came through her quarter-final against Leilani Joyce despite losing the third game 10/9, while in the top half Sue Wright overcame Carol Owens in a five game tussle to meet top-seeded Sarah Fitz-Gerald, who had a more comfortable passage against Natalie Grainger.

Leilani Joyce beats Jane Martin

1st round:
Australia's top two seeds comfortably overcame first round opposition in the first round. Defending champion and top seed Sarah Fitz-Gerald beat England's Tracey Shenton 9/4 9/1 9/0 in 22 minutes, while Michelle Martin - favourite to regain the title which she won for three years from 1993 - dismissed Scotland's 'lucky loser' Helen Macfie without conceding a single point in just 18 minutes.

The day's biggest upset was caused by England's 21-year-old Stephanie Brind, who defeated compatriot Linda Charman, the new world No7 and member of England's squad in next week's World Team Championships, 10/8 9/3 9/3.

Local fans were on the edge of their seats as No6 seed Sabine Schoene, the eleven times German national champion from Parsdorf lost the first two games against New Zealand qualifier Sarah Cook. Domestic harmony was restored, however, as the world No9 fought back to take her expected place in the second round with a 4/9 3/9 9/7 9/1 9/7 victory in 58 minutes.

Qualifying final results:
Tania Bailey (ENG) bt Narelle Tippett (AUS)    9/2 6/9 9/5 9/4
Daniela Grzenia (GER) bt Ina Meine (GER)    1/9 9/4 9/1 9/5
Maha Zein (EGY) bt Vicky Botwright (ENG)    9/5 3/9 10/8 9/0
Sabine Baum (GER) bt Melissa Vacca (AUS)    9/2 9/3 9/4
Pamela Nimmo (SCO) bt Kia Paasivirta (FIN)    9/2 9/2 9/7
Melanie Jans (CAN) bt Salma Shabana (EGY)    9/0 9/7 5/9 2/9 9/4
Karen Hargreaves (ENG) bt Kim Hannes (BEL)    9/6 9/5 9/2
Sarah Cook (NZL) bt Helen Macfie (SCO)    9/1 9/2 9/2

Women's World Championships 1998 - 4th-8th November, Stuttgart

1st Round
(4 Nov)

2nd Round
(5 Nov)

Quarters
(6 Nov)

Semis
(7 Nov)

FINAL
(8 Nov)

[1] Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS)
9/4 9/1 9/0
Tracey Shenton(ENG)

Sarah Fitz-Gerald
9/4 9/0 9/3
Tania Bailey

Sarah Fitz-Gerald

9/4 9/7 9/4

Natalie Grainger

Sarah Fitz-Gerald

10/9 9/4 9/2

Sue Wright

 

Sarah Fitz-Gerald

10/8 9/7 2/9 3/9 10/9

Michelle Martin

Match Points

[16] Jenny Tranfield (ENG)
0/9 2/9 9/6 9/4 9/5
[Q] Tania Bailey (ENG)
[6] Sabine Schoene (GER)
4/9 3/9 9/7 9/1 9/7
[Q] Sarah Cook (NZL)
Sabine Schoene
9/4 9/0 9/3
Natalie Grainger
[14] Natalie Grainger (RSA)
9/3 5/9 9/3 9/1
Rachel Grinham (AUS)
[3] Sue Wright (ENG)
9/2 9/1 9/0
[LL] Narelle Tippett (AUS)
Sue Wright
9/3 9/3 9/2
Philippa Beams
 

Sue Wright

4/9 8/9 9/6 9/7 9/3

Carol Owens

[12] Philippa Beams (NZL)
9/5 3/9 9/3 9/5
[Q] Maha Zein (EGY)
[5] Carol Owens (AUS)
10/8 9/2 9/4
[Q] Sabine Baum (GER)
Carol Owens
9/3 9/3 9/4
Rebecca Macree
[15] Rebecca Macree (ENG)
8/10 0/9 9/7 9/7 9/2
Vanessa Atkinson (NED)
[11] Claire Nitch (RSA)
9/6 9/1 9/4
[Q] Daniela Grzenia (GER)
Claire Nitch
9/4 9/1 4/9 9/1
Stephanie Brind

Stephanie Brind

9/7 2/9 7/9 9/5 9/1

Suzanne Horner

Suzanne Horner

9/3 9/2 9/5

Michelle Martin

[8] Linda Charman (ENG)
10/8 9/3 9/3
Stephanie Brind (ENG)
[9] Liz Irving (AUS)
9/1 9/0 9/4
[Q] Karen Hargreaves (ENG)
Liz Irving
9/2 9/0 7/9 9/6
Suzanne Horner
[4] Suzanne Horner (ENG)
4/9 9/6 9/7 9/1
Kate Major (AUS)
[13] Jane Martin (ENG)
9/2 9/0 9/2
[Q] Pamela Nimmo (SCO)
Jane Martin
9/1 2/9 9/2 9/4
Leilani Joyce

Leilani Joyce

9/7 9/1 9/10 9/5

Michelle Martin

[7] Leilani Joyce (NZL)
9/4 9/5 9/1
Tegwen Malik (WAL)
[10] Fiona Geaves (ENG)
9/6 9/1 5/9 9/6
[Q] Melanie Jans (CAN)

Fiona Geaves
9/4 9/3 8/9 9/3
Michelle Martin

[2] Michelle Martin (AUS)
9/0 9/0 9/0
[LL] Helen Macfie (SCO)