AUSTRALIA'S three-times former world squash champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald gave notice that her injury recovery is complete when she beat England's third seed Sue Wright 9-3, 5-9, 9-4, 10-8 in the final of the Women's Rosebowl Squash Classic at the Racquets Club in Thame.

Both players were rediscovering former skills after inactivity for most of last year - the Australian having undergone two operations to repair cartilage damage to her left knee, and Wright after suffering from viral pneumonia.

Wright, who organised the tournament, was too loose in the opening game, allowing her opponent greater control of the rallies.

She came back in the second, and led from 5-2 to take the game.

Fitz-Gerald upped the pace in the third, but Wright refused to give up and adopted a more attacking stance in the fourth game as she raced to an 8-4 lead and game-ball to level the match. However, tiredness returned and she made an unforced error to lose the advantage. Fitz-Gerald again took the upper hand and went on to clinch the match.

The success marked Fitz-Gerald's third successive Tour title in the past three weeks. The former world No 1 from Melbourne, based for much of the year in Caversham, near Reading, won both the Glidden and Greenwich Opens in the USA last month.

"I've won three events in a row now so I guess I'm really on the way back - and I can't wait for the next tournament, in Germany," said the winner.

She said: "I've had a rivalry with Sue for probably the last 15 years, and it seems set to go on, though I normally only play promoters in fun events, not in finals!"

Wright said: "I didn't know what to expect when I started to arrange this event - and I now know what organisers go through! But I'm keen to do an even bigger event next year."

Story date: Monday 07 February

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