Carol Owens

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

Owens was born in Melbourne, Australia, but she changed 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, Australia.

It wasn't until after her change in nationality that Carol began to challenge for the world championship. Her first World Open title came in 2000 when she beat fellow 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. 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, but may still play at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

World Open Results

* 1990: - 33rd place
* 1991: -
* 1992: -
* 1993: -
* 1994: - 5th place
* 1995: -
* 1996: -
* 1997: - 3rd place
* 1998: - 5th place
* 1999: - Q/F (lost to Michelle Martin 9-3, 7-9, 3-9, 2-9)
* 2000: - Won (beat Leilani Joyce 7-9, 3-9, 10-8, 9-6, 9-1)
* 2001: - S/F (lost to Sarah Fitz-Gerald 1-9, 1-9, 5-9)
* 2002: - S/F (lost to Natalie Grainger 9-5, 9-2, 5-9, 1-9, 8-10)
* 2003: - Won (beat Cassie Campion 3-9, 9-2, 9-7, 9-3)

External links

* [http://www.squashpics.com/topwomen/carol_owens.htm Page at squashpics.com]
* [http://www.commonwealthgames.org.nz/Athletes/AthleteProfile.aspx?print=&id=3780&ContactID=2293 Profile at the New Zealand Olympic Commitee website]