Michelle Martin
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- See Marc Dutroux for his ex-wife, whose name is also Michelle Martin.
Michelle Martin is an Australian squash player who - along with compatriot Sarah Fitz-Gerald - was the leading player of the 1990s following the retirement of New Zealand's Susan Devoy. Martin came from a famous family of players - her brother Rodney Martin was a top-class player, winning the World Open in 1991, and another brother Brett Martin achieved a ranking of number 2 in the world.
Life and Career
Martin won her first competitive tournament in 1990, and quickly rose up the rankings until she faced the number one player Susan Devoy in the 1992 World Open Final which she lost 9-4, 9-6, 9-4.
When Devoy retired, Martin became the world ranked number one player, and went on to dominate the sport in the mid 90s. The 1993 World Open was won comfortably when she beat Liz Irving 9-2 9-2 9-1. This was followed by victories against Cassie Campion (9-1, 9-0, 9-6) and Sarah Fitz-Gerald (8-10 9-2 9-6 9-3).
The emergence of Sarah Fitz-Gerald meant they contested many epic struggles in the late 90s. In two successive gruelling finals in 1997 and 1998 Martin lost to Fitz-Gerald 9-5 5-9 6-9 9-2 9-3 and 10-8 9-7 2-9 3-9 10-9. In 1999 she was the runner-up again losing to Cassie Campion 9-6 9-7 9-7. From 1992 to 1999 she had appeared in 7 of the 8 World Open finals.
She won six consecutive British Open titles from 1993-1998. In the 1998 Commonwealth Games she won two gold medals, in the singles and the doubles. She was Australia's Sportswomen of the Year in 1993.
In 1999 Martin retired from the sport, claiming she had achieved every goal she had set herself.
World Open Results
- 1992: runner-up (lost to Susan Devoy 9-4, 9-6, 9-4)
- 1993: Won (beat Liz Irving 9-2 9-2 9-1)
- 1994: Won (beat Cassie Campion 9-1, 9-0, 9-6)
- 1995: Won (beat Sarah Fitz-Gerald 8-10 9-2 9-6 9-3)
- 1996: Q/F
- 1997: runner-up (lost to Sarah Fitz-Gerald 9-5 5-9 6-9 9-2 9-3)
- 1998: runner-up (lost to Sarah Fitz-Gerald 10-8 9-7 2-9 3-9 10-9)
- 1999: runner-up (lost to Cassie Campion 9-6 9-7 9-7)