| Country | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1963-08-15)15 August 1963 (age 62) Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | 1984 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 1995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plays | Right Handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Women's singles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (March 1988) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Lisa Jane OpieMBE (born on 15 August 1963) is a retired Britishsquash player, who was one of the game's leading woman players in the 1980s and early 1990s. Her biggest successes were winning theBritish Open in 1991 and four consecutiveWorld Team Championships from 1985 to 1990. Until the rise ofCassie Campion, Lisa was England's number 1 player.
Born and raised inGuernsey in theChannel Islands, she was coached in her early years in the game by Reg Harbour.[1][2] In international competition, she represented England. She was appointedMember of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to squash in the1995 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.
Lisa won her first tournament in 1979 and quickly established herself as one of the game's best players. She reached the 1981World Open semi-final but lost toRhonda 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 theNew Zealand squash legendSusan 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 the AustralianVicki Cardwell, and twice against old foe Devoy, 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 compatriotSue Wright in the final 6–9, 9–3, 9–3, 9–4. This made her the first British woman to win the title in 30 years. That same year she finished second in the British Sports Journalists Award, with the athleteLiz McColgan coming first.[5]
Opie won four gold medals for theEngland women's national squash team at theEuropean Squash Team Championships in 1981, 1982, 1987 and 1988.[6][7]
| Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1985 Women's World Open Squash Championship | Dublin, Ireland | 9–4, 9–5, 10–8 | |
| Runner-up | 1987 Women's World Open Squash Championship | Auckland,New Zealand | 9–3, 10–8, 9–2 |
| Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1982 Women's British Open Squash Championship | Bromley, England | 9–4, 5–9, 9–4, 9–4 | |
| Runner-up | 1983 Women's British Open Squash Championship | Derby, England | 9–10, 9–6, 9–4, 9–5 | |
| Runner-up | 1984 Women's British Open Squash Championship | Wembley, England | 5–9, 9–0, 9–7, 9–1 | |
| Runner-up | 1986 Women's British Open Squash Championship | Wembley, England | 9–4, 9–2, 9–3 | |
| Winner | 1991 Women's British Open Squash Championship | London, England | 6–9, 9–3, 9–3, 9–4 |
| Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1985 Women's World Team Squash Championships | Dublin, Ireland | 2–1 | |
| Winner | 1987 Women's World Team Squash Championships | Auckland,New Zealand | 2–1 | |
| Winner | 1989 Women's World Team Squash Championships | Warmond,Netherlands | 3–0 | |
| Winner | 1990 Women's World Team Squash Championships | Sydney | 2–1 | |
| Runner-up | 1981 Women's World Team Squash Championships | Toronto, Canada | 2–1 | |
| Runner-up | 1983 Women's World Team Squash Championships | Perth, Australia | 2–1 |
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | World No. 1 March 1988 – April 1988 | Succeeded by |