Sarah Fitz-Gerald To Compete In 2005 Dunlop British Open

Five-times world squash champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald, regarded by many as the finest female player of all-time, has announced that she will be competing in the 2005 Dunlop British Open Squash Championships, which will be held at the National Squash Centre in Manchester from 9-17 October.

Fitz-Gerald's unexpected entry will undoubtedly prove a major attraction for the sport's longest standing event, and follows confirmation last week that the world's most prestigious squash championships will be sponsored by leading British sports brand Dunlop, Fitz-Gerald's racket sponsor.

Fitz-Gerald withdrew from the Women's World Tour in February 2003 after winning every honour available to her. In a record-breaking 2002, the charismatic Australian won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in England; extended her World Tour haul to sixty-one titles; helped Australia to reclaim the Women's World Team Championships; and then went on to successfully defend the World Championship title for a record fifth time.

Off-court, the game's most successful female player stunned the sports world by scoring a remarkable double at the 2002 Australian Sports Awards, winning both the Female Athlete of the Year and the prestigious Dawn Fraser Award for the overall Sports Personality of the Year, ahead of Lleyton Hewitt and Ian Thorpe. In 2004, Fitz-Gerald was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division, for services to women's squash, particularly as a player, and the promotion of sport and a healthy lifestyle.

"Sarah's entry is a major boost for everyone involved in the 2005 Dunlop British Open and complements perfectly a star-studded men's field that will be led by World No1 and World Champion Thierry Lincou from France; defending Champion David Palmer from Australia; England's World No2 and three times British Champion Lee Beachill; and the charismatic former Champion Jonathon Power from Canada," said Tournament Promoter Paul Walters of iSPORTmarketing.

Tickets for the 2005 Dunlop British Open Squash Championships are now available exclusively from www.iSPORTticketing.com.

Tickets can be booked online at www.iSPORTticketing.com; by telephone on 07973-544719; or via email to Rachel.Pullan@iSPORTmarketing.com.