AT A GLANCE
Sarah Fitz-gerald’s Squash Legacy
The Beginning
:
From a Melbourne junior with a family squash pedigree to one of the greatest players in history, Sarah’s
journey is defined by her fierce competitive spirit, leadership, and commitment to leaving the sport better
than she found it.
Born into a squash household led by her mother — four-time Australian Champion Judith
Fitz-Gerald — Sarah was on court before she was 10. By 16, she had swept every Australian junior title and
captained Australia to its first World Junior Team Championship.
The Making of a Champion :
Turning professional in 1987, Sarah quickly cemented her place in squash history. She became the first
player to win both the World Junior and World Open titles, securing the latter in 1996 without dropping a
single game. Her career is studded with achievements: 5 World Open titles, 5 World Team Championships, 65+
PSA/WISPA titles, and 39 months as World No. 1.
Her 1998 World Open final against Michelle Martin — where she saved 8 match balls from
0–2 down — remains one of the sport’s most legendary comebacks. It wasn’t just her skill that defined her,
but her grit, resilience, and ability to thrive under pressure.
Beyond the Court :
Sarah’s influence on squash didn’t end when she stepped off the professional circuit. She has served in key
administrative roles, including President of Squash & Racquetball Victoria, and has been a mentor to
emerging athletes across Australia. A vocal advocate for the sport’s growth, she has worked tirelessly to
ensure squash’s relevance and accessibility at all levels.
As co-founder of COURTDesigns Australia, Sarah has combined her elite playing
knowledge with business acumen to deliver 64 squash court projects across Australia, New Zealand, and the
Pacific — from local clubs to major sports complexes — leaving a lasting infrastructure legacy for future
generations.
Professional Titles
65+
World Open Champion (1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002)
5×
Test Caps for Australia
80+
Months as World No. 1
39
World Team Championship Winner
5×
President – WISPA (1991–2002)
Co-Founder – COURTDesigns Australia
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Hall of Fame – Sport Australia & Squash Australia
The Fitz-gerald’s Archive – Fond Memories
H
E
A
R
T
S
B
E
H
I
N
D
T
H
E
G
A
M
E
|
Was Sarah your Teammate, friend, inspiration, Mentor? Share your story below or upload a photo. We’ll keep her story alive — through yours
SHARE YOUR TRIBUTE
Leave a Tribute
Upload a Photo
Final Words
“The game gave me everything — now it’s my turn to give back.”
From her first swing in a Melbourne community court to world titles on every stage, from fearless comebacks to building the next generation’s playing fields, Sarah Fitz-Gerald’s legacy is as much about giving as it is about winning.
Sarah Fitz-gerald
Squash Legend
It’s not just about winning titles. It’s about leaving the sport stronger than when you found it
“
”
THE RESPECT EARNED
Community Reflections
“Sarah wasn’t just a champion — she was the standard we measured ourselves against.”
Former Australian Teammate
“She builds courts with the same precision she played with.”
Courtdesigns Client
“For juniors, she’s proof you can win big and stay humble.”
Victorian Junior Coach
DIVE DEEPER
More About The Player
1998 World Open comeback vs Michelle Martin
Favourite win
1
Michelle Martin – “No easy points, ever”
Toughest opponent
2
Can still do a gymnastics backbend
Hidden skill
3
Music and quiet visualisation
Pre-match ritual
4
Gardening and court design
Post-retirement passion
5
Get better every day, not just on the scoreboard
Best advice for juniors
6
Junior Dominance
THE EARLY YEARS
“Winning the World Juniors lit a fire that never went out.”
— Sarah Fitz-Gerald
1985 – Australian Junior Female Team of the Year
1987 – World Junior Champion & Australian Junior Athlete of the Year
Captain of Australia’s inaugural World Junior Team Championship win
Complete sweep of Australian junior titles — Under 13, 15, 17, and 19
Sarah picked up a racquet at age eight and began competing soon after. She won every junior state and national title possible, progressing rapidly through the ranks.
MAKING OF A CHAMPION
Awards & Honours
1985
Australian Junior Female Team of the Year
2001
Australian Female Athlete of the Year
2004
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
2012
Squash Australia Legend Status
1987
Australian Junior Athlete of the Year
2001
Dawn Fraser Award (ahead of Lleyton Hewitt & Ian Thorpe)
2005
Squash Australia Hall of Fame
1998 & 2002
Australian Junior Female Team of the Year
2002
Victorian Sportswoman & Sportsperson of the Year
2010
Sport Australia Hall of Fame
SERVICES INCLUDE
PROJECT REACH – 64 SUCCESSFUL JOBS
All-glass show courts and club courts
Retro-fit glass front walls and backs
Height-adjustable
tins
Sprung sports floors and sand floors
Wall painting and refurbishments
Fast installation: 2
days for a glass front wall, 2 weeks for two complete courts
Victoria: 21
New South Wales: 16
Western Australia: 14
Rest of Australia: 12
New Zealand:
7
New Caledonia: 1
BEYOND THE COURT
Courtdesigns Australia
Founded in 2013 with husband Cameron Dalley, COURTDesigns builds and renovates squash courts across Australia and Oceania.
Leadership & Advocacy
Improved prize money, conditions, and tour structure for women players
President, WISPA (1991–2002)
Six years in senior governance
Vice-President, World Squash Federation
Two years
Board Member, Squash Australia
Improved prize money, conditions, and tour structure for women players
President, WISPA (1991–2002)
Current
Chair, World Squash Coaching Commission
Current
President, Squash & Racquetball Victoria
Represented athletes at IOC forums
Led promotional tours in developing squash nations
On behalf of the entire Australian squash community -juniors, masters, league players, families, and
everyone in between - we offer our deepest gratitude to Sarah Fitz-Gerald.
For more than three decades,
Sarah has been the face, the voice, and the spirit of Australian squash. From her world titles to her work
in boardrooms, from mentoring young players to representing our game on the global stage, she has carried
the sport with unmatched pride and professionalism.
Sarah has shown us what it means to win with grace,
lead with purpose, and give back without hesitation. As one of the greatest ambassadors our sport has ever
known, she has championed the growth of squash for all especially strong in her support of women and
juniors, inspiring more people to step on court and be part of the game.
Your achievements have brought
Australia to the highest peaks of the game, but it’s your generosity, humility, and tireless advocacy that
have left the deepest mark. You’ve given us moments of glory, years of leadership, and a vision for what
squash in Victoria and beyond can become.
We thank your family for sharing you with us through the
countless hours, travel, and commitment it has taken to reach and remain at the top - and to use that
platform for the good of the game.
Sarah, thank you for the honour, the inspiration, and the hope you’ve given to every squash player in
Australia. You have been,
and will always be, a champion of both the game and its people.
At Squash Connect, we are proud to celebrate your legacy. Your story will continue to guide us, reminding
everyone that true champions don’t just win matches, they leave the sport better for those who follow.
From All of Us at Squash Connect
With deepest respect and admiration —
The Squash Connect Community
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur...
FAMILY FOUNDATIONS
The Fitzgerald Sporting Legacy
Sarah turned professional in 1987 and, after nearly a decade on tour, made history in 1996. In Malaysia, she became the first player to combine a World Junior Championship with the World Open crown, winning the latter without dropping a game and conceding just 29 points all tournament.
In 2010, she returned to the green-and-gold, helping Australia win the Women’s World Team Championship in New Zealand. She has since added World Masters, World Games, and British Masters titles to her collection.
FIRST WORLD OPEN
COMEBACK & MASTERS SUCCESS
Breaking Through
Seven tour titles, Gold at the inaugural World Games in Lahti, Finland, and her second World Open in Sydney
1997
One of squash’s greatest comebacks — down 0–2 and 2–8 in the fifth, she saved 8 match balls to beat Michelle Martin in the World Open final.
1998
Underwent knee surgery and recovery.
1999
Returned to win five consecutive tour events
2000
Claimed her long-sought British Open and a second Australian Open
2001
Unbeaten season: fifth World Open, Commonwealth Games Singles Gold, multiple tour wins
2002
THE GOLDEN RUN – 1997 TO 2002
65+ PSA/WISPA titles
Represented Australia in 96 events
5× World Team Championships victories
By Retirement In 2003, Sarah Had
Judith was a four-time Australian Squash Champion
(1952, 1956–58)
British Open Plate winner
(1955)
the Squash & Racquetball Victoria Hall of Fame
2002
Squash Australia’s Distinguished Service Award
Squash Australia’s Distinguished Service Award
2007
2007
SPORTING LEGACY
FOREVER
Sarah Fitz-Gerald’s journey to the top of world squash began at home, shaped by the influence of her
mother, Judith FitzGerald (née Tissot)
— a pioneer whose impact on the sport extended from the court to coaching, mentoring, and building pathways
for future players.
As the youngest of six in a competitive, sport-driven family, Sarah found her calling under Judith’s
guidance. The squash court became both classroom and playground, where she learned not just the game’s
skills, but the values of discipline, resilience, and pride in representing something bigger
than
herself.
“Thanks Mum for teaching me squash. I’m so proud to have reached the pinnacle of my sport and given you the opportunity to brag about me to EVERYONE you could. We love you and miss the Matriarch of the Fitzy family already.”
— sarah Fitz-gerald
Path To Greatness
THE TIMES (UK)
One of the most complete players the sport has ever seen -equal parts power, precision and mental steel
THE AGE (MELBOURNE)
Sarah Fitz-Gerald’s career is defined not only by her titles, but by her relentless commitment to growing the game
BBC SPORT
Her 1998 World Open comeback will be spoken about for decades -a masterclass in grit and self-belief
SHOW MORE
MOMENTS
In The Press
Legend’s Appeal – Sarah Fitz-gerald
“Each time I get involved in events, committees or promotions, I bring my playing ability, knowledge,
history and love of the game to everyone.
With squash back in the Olympics, we have a once-in-a-generation chance to
rebuild. I believe 2026 can be the start of a golden era for
Women’s squash in Victoria
—but only if we all unite behind it.
This isn’t just my campaign—it belongs to all of us. Together, we can make 2026 the year
women’s squash roars back to life.”
Sarah Fitz-Gerald 5× World Champion | President, Squash & Racquetball Victoria
