Fitz-Gerald In Home Record Bid

Australia's world No1 and four-times world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald begins her bid to break compatriot Michelle Martin's record of 57 WISPA World Tour titles in her home country tomorrow (27 June) when she opens her defence of the Australian Open title in Adelaide.

Success in Adelaide, which would mark Fitz-Gerald's third Australian Open title, would move the Melbourne squash star into second place in the all-time WISPA list behind New Zealand's Susan Devoy, who boasted more than 90 professional titles from 1984 to 1992.

Fitz-Gerald equalled Martin's tally in the USA in May when she extended her remarkable unbeaten run since last August to win the Seattle Open. Top seed in Adelaide, Sarah faces compatriot Tanya Bone in the first round, and is expected to meet second-seeded Laura Keating in the final on Sunday.

"After my injury woes in 1999/2000, I set myself a number of goals in a bid to return to the top of the sport I love so much," said Fitz-Gerald from Adelaide. "My aims were to win the World Open in my hometown of Melbourne, to win the British Open in 2001, and to reach 60 WISPA World Tour titles.

"I am delighted to say that I successfully achieved the first two, and now have the opportunity to break Michelle's record of 57 titles and continue on to 60," Sarah explained.

"To break the record in Adelaide would be personally very satisfying, as my national title means a lot to me and achieving the record in my home country would be an added bonus."