Lisa Opie
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| Country |  England Guernsey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 15 August 1963 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 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, Lisa was England's number 1 player.
Born and raised in Guernsey in the Channel Islands, 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.
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 the Australian Vicki 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 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 in 30 years. That same year she finished second in the British Sports Journalists Award, with the athlete Liz McColgan coming first.[5]
Opie won four gold medals for the England women's national squash team at the European Squash Team Championships in 1981, 1982, 1987 and 1988.[6][7]
World Open
Finals: 2 (0 title, 2 runners-up)
| Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1985 Women's World Open Squash Championship | Dublin, Ireland |  Susan Devoy | 9–4, 9–5, 10–8 |
| Runner-up | 1987 Women's World Open Squash Championship | Auckland, New Zealand | Susan Devoy | 9–3, 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-up | 1982 Women's British Open Squash Championship | Bromley, England |  Vicki Cardwell | 9–4, 5–9, 9–4, 9–4 |
| Runner-up | 1983 Women's British Open Squash Championship | Derby, England | Vicki Cardwell | 9–10, 9–6, 9–4, 9–5 |
| Runner-up | 1984 Women's British Open Squash Championship | Wembley, England | Susan Devoy | 5–9, 9–0, 9–7, 9–1 |
| Runner-up | 1986 Women's British Open Squash Championship | Wembley, England | Susan Devoy | 9–4, 9–2, 9–3 |
| Winner | 1991 Women's British Open Squash Championship | London, England | Sue Wright | 6–9, 9–3, 9–3, 9–4 |
