Carol Owens (squash player)

Last updated

Carol Owens
CountryFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia, Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Born (1971-06-04) 4 June 1971 (age 53)
Residence Auckland, New Zealand
Retired2004
Women's singles
Highest rankingNo. 1 (November 2002)
Medal record
Women's squash
Representing Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2000 Edinburgh Singles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1997 Sydney Singles
World Team Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1994 Saint Peter Port Team
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1996 Petaling Jaya Team
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1998 Stuttgart Team
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1998 Kuala Lumpur Doubles
Representing Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2003 Hong Kong Singles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2001 Melbourne Singles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2002 Doha Singles
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2002 Manchester Doubles
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2002 Manchester Singles
Updated on 3 March 2010.

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

Contents

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

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]

Owens began to challenge for the world championship whilst still representing Australia and her first World Open title came in 2000 when she came back from two games down to 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, Owens changed her 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, Owens announced that she had retired from the professional game. [2]

World Open

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

OutcomeYearLocationOpponent in the finalScore in the final
Winner 2000 Women's World Open Squash Championship Edinburgh, Scotland Flag of New Zealand.svg Leilani Joyce 9–6, 9–5, 7–9, 5–9, 9–6
Winner 2003 Women's World Open Squash Championship Hong Kong Flag of England.svg Cassie Jackman 3–9, 9–2, 9–7, 9–3

World Team Championships

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

OutcomeYearLocationOpponent in the finalScore in the final
Winner 1994 Women's World Team Squash Championships Saint Peter Port, Guernsey Flag of England.svg England3–0
Winner 1996 Women's World Team Squash Championships Petaling Jaya, Malaysia Flag of England.svg England2–1
Winner 1998 Women's World Team Squash Championships Stuttgart, Germany Flag of England.svg England3–0

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Fitz-Gerald</span> Australian squash player

Sarah Elizabeth Fitz-GeraldAM is an Australian former professional squash player who won five World Open titles – 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002. She ranks alongside Janet Morgan, Nicol David, Susan Devoy, Michelle Martin and Heather McKay as the sport's greatest female players of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Martin</span> Australian squash player

Michelle Susan Martin is an Australian former professional squash player who was one of the game's leading players in the 1990s. She was ranked number one in the world from 1993 to 1996 and again in 1998 and 1999, and won three World Open titles and six British Open titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joshna Chinappa</span> Indian professional squash player

Joshna Chinappa is an Indian professional squash player. She reached a career-high world ranking of #10 in 2016. She was the first Indian to win the British Junior Open in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicol David</span> Malaysian squash player

Datuk Nicol Ann David is a Malaysian retired professional squash player. She was the world number one for a record-breaking 108 consecutive months, ceding the ranking in September 2015 to Raneem El Weleily. She has won the World Open title a record 8 times in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014, as well as the British Open title in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2014. In July 2016, she reached her 151st successive month in the top 10, breaking the record in both men's and women's category. She surpassed Peter Nicol's records of 150 months. David is the first squash player to have won the World Junior title twice; in 1999 and 2001 under Richard Glanfield.

Leilani Rorani is a New Zealand former squash player. During her professional career, she reached the world number 1 ranking, won the British Open in 1999 and 2000, and finished runner-up at the World Open in 2000 and 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachael Grinham</span> Australian squash player

Rachael Margaret Grinham is an Australian former professional squash player. She won the World Open in 2007, and the British Open in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2009. She reached the World No. 1 ranking in August 2004 and held it for 16 consecutive months.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Grinham</span> Australian squash player

Natalie Marie Grinham is an Australian former professional squash player. During her career, she has won three Commonwealth Games gold medals, and finished runner-up at both the World Open and the British Open. She reached her highest career ranking in 2007 when she became the World No. 2. She represented Australia in international squash competitions up to 2006. She is married to the Dutch squash player Tommy Berden, and took up Dutch citizenship in February 2008. Both Tommy and Natalie became the first husband and wife team to win a joint championship in squash after winning the respective trophies at the inaugural edition of the Tranzparanz Open in June 2006 which was held in Almere, Netherlands.

Tania Bailey is a retired professional squash player from England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dipika Pallikal</span> Indian squash player

Dipika Pallikal is an Indian professional squash player. She was the first Indian player to break into the top 10 in the world rankings.

Louise Crome is a New Zealand former professional squash player. She toured for 3 years reaching a world ranking of 22. She was a member of the New Zealand Women's Team between 2004 - 2008 and won titles in Finland, Vietnam and Welsh Opens, and second place in Mexico, Los Angeles, Toronto Opens and New Zealand Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenny Duncalf</span> English squash player (born 1982)

Jennifer Duncalf is a former professional squash player from England. She reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 2 in December 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Massaro</span> English squash player

Laura Jane Massaro is an English retired professional squash player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kasey Brown</span> Australian squash player

Kasey Brown is an Australian former squash player. She reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 5 in December 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna Lobban</span> Australian squash player

Donna Lobban, also known as Donna Belle Urquhart, is an Australian retired professional squash player. She reached a career-high world ranking of 13 in May 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nour El Sherbini</span> Egyptian squash player

Nour Atef Ahmed Zaki El Sherbini is an Egyptian professional squash player. She is currently ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles by the Women's Squash Association (WSA), having held the position for a total of 43 weeks. Nour, the only player representing Egypt in the list of most winner in all time of PSA Women's World Championship. And The Most Egyptian Player to win a Major series title, has won the British Open four times and the US Open once. Nour has won 40 titles, including the PSA Finals Twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Campion</span> English squash player

Sarah Campion, also known by her former name Sarah Kippax, is former professional squash player who represented England

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joelle King</span> New Zealand squash player

Joelle King is a New Zealand professional squash player. She reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 4 in April 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 WISPA World Tour</span> Squash tournament

The WISPA World Tour 2010 is the international squash tour and organized circuit, organized by the Women's International Squash Players Association (WISPA) for the 2010 squash season. The most important tournament in the series is the World Open held in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. The tour features three categories of regular events, the World Series, which features the highest prize money and the best fields, Gold and Silver tournaments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah-Jane Perry</span> English squash player

Sarah-Jane Perry is a professional squash player who represents England and Great Britain. She reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 5 in July 2020.

The Texas Open is an annual women's pro squash tournament that takes place alternately in Dallas and Houston, United States in the first half of the year. It is an official PSA World Tour event.

References

  1. "Former world champion starred for rivals Australia and New Zealand". 11 March 2014.
  2. Bronstein, Martin (12 January 2004). "So Farewell Carol Owens: A Personal Tribute by Martin Bronstein, Written Specially for SquashTalk". Squashtalk.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
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