Carol Owens (squash player)

Carol Owens (born 4 June 1971) is a former New Zealand-based squash player who won the World Open in 2000 and 2003.

Carol Owens
Country Australia,  New Zealand
ResidenceAuckland, New Zealand
Born (1971-06-04) 4 June 1971
Retired2004
Women's singles
Highest rankingNo. 1 (November 2002)
Last updated on: 3 March 2010.

Owens was born in Melbourne, Australia, and would eventually change her nationality when she moved to Auckland, New Zealand. A right-hander, she made her competitive debut in 1990 in the Swiss Open where she finished 17th. Her first final was the 1993 Japan Open where she was a runner-up to the Canadian Heather Wallace. She didn't have to wait long for her first major victory, which came in October in Adelaide, South Australia.

She was part of the Australian winning team at the 1994 Women's World Team Squash Championships, 1996 Women's World Team Squash Championships and 1998 Women's World Team Squash Championships.

She has the unique achievement of representing both Australia and New Zealand at the highest level and is the first female player to win medals for two countries at the Commonwealth Games.[1]

Carol began to challenge for the world championship whilst still representing Australia and her first World Open title came in 2000 when she beat New Zealander Leilani Joyce 7–9, 3–9, 10–8, 9–6, 9–1. This was after an equally epic semi-final against Sarah Fitz-Gerald.
In 2001 Carol changed nationality becoming a New Zealander and at the 2002 Commonwealth Games she won the gold in the doubles and a silver in the singles. The elusive second world title came in 2003, when she beat Cassie Campion 3–9, 9–2, 9–7, 9–3. It was in 2003 that she became – for the first time – the World No. 1 ranked player.

At the beginning of 2004, Carol announced that she had retired from the professional game.[2]

World Open

Finals: 2 (2 title, 0 runners-up)

Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner2000 Women's World Open Squash ChampionshipEdinburgh, Scotland Leilani Joyce9–6, 9–5, 7–9, 5–9, 9–6
Winner2003 Women's World Open Squash ChampionshipHong Kong Cassie Jackman3–9, 9–2, 9–7, 9–3

World Team Championships

Finals: 3 (3 title, 0 runner-up)

Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner1994 Women's World Team Squash ChampionshipsSaint Peter Port, Guernsey England3–0
Winner1996 Women's World Team Squash ChampionshipsPetaling Jaya, Malaysia England2–1
Winner1998 Women's World Team Squash ChampionshipsStuttgart, Germany England3–0

See also

References

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Sarah Fitz-Gerald
Sarah Fitz-Gerald
Natalie Grainger
World No. 1
November 2002
March 2003 – May 2003
July 2003 – January 2004
Succeeded by
Sarah Fitz-Gerald
Natalie Grainger
Cassie Jackman
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