Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Happy 33rd Birthday Jennifer Saunders!

You are one of the winningest Canadian racquetball players. Your three Canadian championships in singles are surpassed by only Heather Stupp (with 7), Christie Van Hees (6), and Heather McKay (5). Add your six doubles titles and only Stupp (13 combined) and Josée Grand'Maître (14), who was your partner for those six doubles titles, have more combined championships than your 9.

But success outside Canada has been more elusive. You're ranked 9th on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour, but have yet to get past the quarters in a Tier 1 event. You have been the queen of the open division, winning that several times including twice this season, as well as the 2007 US Open.

Internationally, you've represented Canada 13 times taking two silver medals - at Worlds in 2002, when you lost to Cheryl Gudinas in the final, and in doubles at the 2004 Pan American Championships, with Grand'Maître, when you lost to Susy Acosta and Rosy Torres. You've also taken home four bronze medals: three in singles from the 2006 and 2008 World Championships and the 2008 Pan American Championships, and one in doubles from the 2004 World Championship again with Grand'Maître as your partner.

Born in Thompson, a small city in northern Manitoba with a large nickel mine, you got the racquetball bug early, leading to many 8 hour drives south to Winnipeg for tournaments.

All that time you put in pursuing the racquetball dream has more than paid off, and is likely to continue to do so for many years to come.

Follow the bouncing ball....

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