Squash: Devoy to make an exhibition comeback

By BOB PEARCE

Ten years after retiring, former world champion Susan Devoy has been invited to play a series of exhibitions in the United States in November.

Her opponent will be Australian Michelle Martin, whom she beat to win her fourth world title in Vancouver, where she announced her retirement.

Now the mother of four young boys, Devoy admitted yesterday that she did not even own a squash racket when the invitation arrived.

"I've been back on court for two weeks now - one week playing and the other recovering," she said.

"I had a few hits with Carol Owens [silver medallist at the Manchester Commonwealth Games] and I couldn't walk for three days.

"I've never been so frustrated. I'm the same person in a different body, and it's really hard."

Dame Susan, a member of the Auckland District Health Board and chair of the Halberg Trust, is 38. Her opponent, who succeeded her as world champion, retired a year ago.

"The exhibitions won't be competitive, but I want to put on a respectable show," she said.

"The boys are very keen for me to go. They think I'll be able to buy them a PlayStation 2."