Carol Owens
Encyclopedia
Carol Owens 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
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
-based squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
player who won the World Open in 2000 and 2003.
Owens was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, but she changed her nationality when she moved to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. 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
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
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
Leilani Joyce
Leilani Joyce is a former World No. 1 professional squash player from New Zealand. During her career, she won the British Open in 1999 and 2000, and finished runner-up at the World Open in 2000 and 2001....
7–9, 3–9, 10–8, 9–6, 9–1. This was after an equally epic semi-final against Sarah Fitz-Gerald
Sarah Fitz-Gerald
Sarah Elizabeth Fitz-Gerald AM is an Australian women's squash player who is perhaps the greatest of the 1990s, collecting five World Open titles – 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002. She ranks alongside Susan Devoy, Michelle Martin and Heather McKay as the sport's greatest...
. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
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
Cassie Campion
Cassie Jackman is a former English squash player who won the World Open in 1999. She has been England's leading player throughout much of the 1990s and early 21st century...
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
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
.
Finals: 2 (2 title, 0 runner-ups)
| Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Winner | 2000 | Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
 Leilani JoyceLeilani Joyce Leilani Joyce is a former World No. 1 professional squash player from New Zealand. During her career, she won the British Open in 1999 and 2000, and finished runner-up at the World Open in 2000 and 2001.... |
9–6, 9–5, 7–9, 5–9, 9–6 |
| Winner | 2003 | Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... |
 Cassie Jackman |
3–9, 9–2, 9–7, 9–3 |