Lisa Opie

Lisa Jane Opie MBE (born on 15 August 1963) is a retired British squash player, who was one of the game's leading woman players in the 1980s and early-1990s. Her biggest successes were winning the British Open in 1991 and four consecutive World Team Championships from 1985 to 1990. Until the rise of Cassie Campion she was England's number 1 player.

Lisa Opie
MBE
Country England
ResidenceEngland
Born (1963-08-15) 15 August 1963
Turned Pro1984
Retired1995
PlaysRight Handed
Women's singles
Highest rankingNo. 1 (March 1988)
Medal record
Women's squash
Representing  England
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1985 Dublin Singles
Silver medal – second place 1987 Auckland Singles
Bronze medal – third place 1981 Toronto Singles
Last updated: 3 March 2010.

Born and raised in Guernsey, she was coached in her early years in the game by Reg Harbour.[1][2] In international competition, she represented England. She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to squash in the 1995 New Year Honours.[3][4] In later years she was coached by Gavin Dupre from Jersey. They began working together in Guernsey and Lisa later spent time training with him in Germany where he was based as a professional coach.

Playing career

Lisa won her first tournament in 1979 and quickly established herself as one of the game's best players. She reached the 1981 World Open semi-final but lost to Rhonda Thorne 9–2, 9–0, 9–4. This was to be the first in a series of near-misses for Lisa, as she reached two World Open finals but lost both times to the New Zealand squash legend Susan Devoy – in 1985 (9–4, 9–5, 10–8) and 1987 (9–3, 10–8, 9–2).

The British Open also provided much heartbreak. In 1982 and 1983 she lost in the final against Vicki Cardwell, and then against old foe Devoy again in 1984 (5–9, 9–0, 9–7, 9–1) and 1986 (9–4, 9–2, 9–3). However, she eventually won the British Open in 1991 when she beat compatriot Sue Wright in the final 6–9, 9–3, 9–3, 9–4. This made her the first British woman to win the title for 30 years. That same year she finished second in the Sports Journalists Award, with the athlete Liz McColgan coming first.[5]

World Open

Finals: 2 (0 title, 2 runners-up)

Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up1985 Women's World Open Squash ChampionshipDublin, IrelandNew Zealand Susan Devoy9–4, 9–5, 10–8
Runner-up1987 Women's World Open Squash ChampionshipAuckland, New ZealandNew Zealand Susan Devoy9–3, 10–8, 9–2

British Open

Finals: 5 (1 title, 4 runners-up)

Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up1982 Women's British Open Squash ChampionshipBromley, EnglandAustralia Vicki Cardwell9–4, 5–9, 9–4, 9–4
Runner-up1983 Women's British Open Squash ChampionshipDerby, EnglandAustralia Vicki Cardwell9–10, 9–6, 9–4, 9–5
Runner-up1984 Women's British Open Squash ChampionshipWembley, EnglandNew Zealand Susan Devoy5–9, 9–0, 9–7, 9–1
Runner-up1986 Women's British Open Squash ChampionshipWembley, EnglandNew Zealand Susan Devoy9–4, 9–2, 9–3
Winner1991 Women's British Open Squash ChampionshipLondon, EnglandEngland Sue Wright6–9, 9–3, 9–3, 9–4

World Team Championships

Finals: 6 (4 titles, 2 runner-up)

Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner1985 Women's World Team Squash ChampionshipsDublin, IrelandNew Zealand New Zealand2–1
Winner1987 Women's World Team Squash ChampionshipsAuckland, New ZealandAustralia Australia2–1
Winner1989 Women's World Team Squash ChampionshipsWarmond, NetherlandsAustralia Australia3–0
Winner1990 Women's World Team Squash ChampionshipsSydneyAustralia Australia2–1
Runner-up1981 Women's World Team Squash ChampionshipsToronto, CanadaAustralia Australia2–1
Runner-up1983 Women's World Team Squash ChampionshipsPerth, AustraliaAustralia Australia2–1

References

  1. Batiste, Rob (2 February 2008). "Martine, Lisa just too close to be split". Guernsey Press and Star. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  2. Elliott, Keith (14 October 1994). "Keith Elliott at Large: Regeneration now the name of the game on squash island". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  3. United Kingdom list: "No. 53893". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 30 December 1994. p. 23.
  4. "Guernsey Sport Commission Website". Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  5. "Past winners of the SJA British Sports Awards – Sports Journalists' Association".
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