FITZ-GERALD SEALS HISTORIC HOME WIN
Dicky Rutnagur in Melbourne on the final
[3] Sarah Fitz-Gerald (Aus) bt [1] Leilani
Joyce (Nzl) 9/0 9/3 9/2 44m
Sarah
Fitz-Gerald thrilled and regaled her home crowd at the Melbourne Sports &
Aquatic Centre not just with her fourth win in the Women’s World Open
Championship, but with her virtuosity while beating Leilani Joyce, the slim,
athletic Maori from Hamilton, 9-0, 9-3, 9-2, in a 44-minutes final.
For number of wins, Fitz-Gerald, whose last win was in 1998, in Stuttgart, has
now equalled the record of the redoubtable Susan Devoy, of New Zealand, who
retired while still champion to start a family. However, Fitz-Gerald would not
acknowledge hers as an equal feat.
“You
must take into account the fact that in Susan’s time, the tournament was
played every two years.” As for her own plans, she said she was aiming to play
in the Commonwealth Games and would then look at the future.
The scoreline gave Fitz-Gerald her full due but, looked at from Joyce’s
viewpoint, it told a great big lie. The Kiwi played her heart out and never
gave up the struggle at any stage, saving three match points before bowing the
knee.
To have withstood the pressure that Fitz-Gerald applied by taking the ball
early, boasting and playing her volley-drops with immense deception, spoke
volumes for Joyce’s determination, speed and fitness.
Paying tribute to the victor, Joyce said: “Again I found myself at the
receiving end of Sarah’s awesome form. She got it 110% right on the day. For
me, it’s back to the drawing board. The biggest plus of tonight’s experience
is that I know there is room for improvement.”
For her part, Fitz-Gerald acknowledged that she played as well as she has ever
done. “Losing to Leilani in Hong Kong (in August) worked like a kick up the
bum. It made me play the way I have done since and the manner in which I beat
her in Heliopolis and Qatar filled me with absolute confidence.
Sarah comments on her fourth World Title:
"The last three years have been very difficult and there
have been many times when I didn't think I would ever play again, let alone be
ranked number one in the World and win my fourth World Championship. Winning
the World Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Sydney and Stuttgart were very special
moments, but winning in my home city Melbourne is the greatest feeling of my
life. I owe everything to my lifelong coach Mike Johnson, who has inspired me
to train harder than at any time in my career, and Jonah Barrington, Malcolm
Willstrop, and Mike and Ken Way who have given me so much support. Everything
in my life has been focussed on this moment and in many ways winning in
Melbourne was my destiny".
Susan Devoy,
speaking from Auckland, was full of Admiration for the way the WISPA president
Fitz-Gerald had fought back from injury to dominate the world scene. Devoy
said: "Sarah has done an enormous amount for women's squash down the years
and thoroughly deserves this success."
