'I have felt more pressure on me. It is hard staying at the top,' says weary women's world number one on eve of showpiece
The light has gone out of Carol Owens' squash-playing life. The world number one says she is on the verge of calling it quits and retiring. And she wants to go out on a high by winning the Credit Suisse Privilege World Women's Open, which begins today at the Hong Kong Squash Centre.
'This could be the end of the road for me. I might not play next year. I will see how I go at this tournament but this is probably the last time that I will play on the circuit. It will be great if I can go out on a high note by winning the World Open,' Owens revealed yesterday.
The semi-finals and final of this tournament - another sporting event in the Relaunch Hong Kong Campaign - will be played on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront where Hong Kong Squash's four-sided glass court will be set up outside the Cultural Centre. Owens, 32, is looking forward to playing in the spectacular Hong Kong harbour backdrop. It would be a fitting stage for her swansong.
Owens perked up when asked about playing a final outdoors.
'It is fantastic that the final rounds will be played outside,' she said. 'Squash needs that sort of exposure. We have to get more into the public's eye. I'm looking forward to playing in the final rounds. I hope I will be there.'
A lifetime of travel, training, triumph and defeat has finally caught up with the New Zealander who heads a 32-strong main draw at the 2003 World Open. Hong Kong's own Rebecca Chiu Wing-yin will be amongst the contestants in the opening round today.
