DOHA (Qatar), Oct 27: Australian Sarah Fitz-Gerald will be aiming to win the World Open for a record fifth time at the $102,500 event starting Monday.

Fitz-Gerald, 34 later this year, has struggled for two years with knee injuries, but is still seeded to make a successful world title defence.

If Fitz-Gerald does that, she will overtake the four titles won by the New Zealander Susan Devoy, who is widely regarded as the greatest woman player of the open era.

But for her injuries the Melbourne woman might have won more titles, and she will always be remembered for the hatful of match points she saved in the finest final of all, four years ago in Stuttgart against her compatriot Michelle Martin.

Her main aim for this year was winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal, which she did three months ago in Manchester with a hard-fought victory over former world champion Carol Owens.

But privately Fitz-Gerald knows that another world title will ensure that she will always be remembered as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

The tournament will run concurrently with a major men’s event, the $120,000 Qatar Classic, in which Peter Nicol, the world champion from Britain, may renew his rivalry with Jonathon Power, the Commonwealth champion from Canada.

Pakistan’s Jansher Khan, former world champion a record eight times, hopes to continue his comeback after four years out of the game, but the 33-year-old Pakistani will have to qualify.—Reuters