Jennifer Saunders (racquetball)

Jennifer Saunders
Personal information
Nationality Canadian
Born November 18, 1976
Thompson, Manitoba
Residence Winnipeg, Manitoba
Height 5'7"
Sport
Sport Racquetball
Turned pro 2001
Achievements and titles
National finals 1st (2002, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Highest world ranking 7th (2010-11, 2011-12)

Jennifer Saunders (born November 18, 1976) is a Canadian racquetball player from Thompson, Manitoba. Saunders is the current Canadian Women's Champion, winning her 8th title in Brossard, Quebec, in May 2014.[1] Saunders was the 2009 Manitoba Female Athlete of the Year as voted by the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.[2]

Professional career

Saunders was ranked 7th at the end of the 2011-12 women's professional season, which tied a career high. Since then, she has played a reduced schedule, and was ranked 17th at the end of the 2013-14 LPRT season.[3] Saunders's career best women's pro tournament finish was in the semi-finals of the 2010 Texas Open, when she defeated Kerri Wachtel in the quarter finals.[4]

Domestic and international career

Saunders has been Canadian Women's Singles Champion the last six years: 2009-2014 as well as in 2005, 2002.[5] She's also been the Canadian Women's Doubles Champion on ten occasions: from 2003 to 2007 and again from 2009 to 2014. Her partner for all ten championships was Josée Grand'Maître. Her combined 18 Canadian titles tie her with Grand'Maître for most all time.[6]

Saunders has competed for Canada on 20 occasions, twice finishing second at the Racquetball World Championships. She was silver medalist in 2012, losing the final to Mexican Paola Longoria in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 15-11, 15-2,[7] and in 2002 when she lost the final to American Cheryl Gudinas, 15-13, 15-13,[8] in Puerto Rico. Saunders was also a silver medalist at the 2010 Pan American Racquetball Championships, losing the final to Longoria.[9]

She has reached the podium on five other occasions. She's had three medals in doubles: a silver at the 2004 Pan American Championships and later that year a bronze at Worlds. Both were won with Grand'Maître, and both times they lost to the Mexican team of Susana Acosta and Rosy Torres. Most recently, Saunders earned bronze at the 2012 Pan American Championships with Christine Richardson, when they lost to Carola Loma and Jenny Daza of Bolivia, 15-12, 15-11, in the semi-finals.[10]

In 2008, Saunders earned bronze medals at both the Pan American Championships[11] and the Worlds, and in 2006 she was a bronze medalist at Worlds.

Finally, Saunders also represented Canada at the 2013 and 2009 World Games as well as the 2003 and 2011 Pan American Games.

Personal

Saunders now lives in Winnipeg, where she is the Executive Director for Racquetball Manitoba. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Winnipeg. Saunders is sponsored by ProKennex racquet sports.

References

  1. ↑ Racquetball Canada. "Press Release". SIRC. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  2. ↑ http://www.winnipegsun.com/sports/othersports/2010/02/01/12691056-sun.html
  3. ↑ http://www.lprtour.com/downloads/2013-2014_Rankings_052014_Season_Ending.pdf
  4. ↑ http://www.sirc.ca/news_view.cfm?id=36989&search=racquetball&show=search&month=&year=&search_where=
  5. ↑ http://www.sirc.ca/news_view.cfm?id=35605&search=racquetball&show=search&month=&year=&search_where=
  6. ↑ Racquetball Canada. "Canadian National Champions". Racquetball Canada. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  7. ↑ Racquetball Canada. "Press Release". SIRC. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  8. ↑ http://www.internationalracquetball.com/worlds/03worlds.htm
  9. ↑ Racquetball Canada. "Press Release". SIRC. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  10. ↑ Racquetball Canada. "Press Release". SIRC. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  11. ↑ Racquetball Canada. "Press Release". SIRC. Retrieved 2 December 2011.

External links