Nicol David Extends World Ranking Lead

April 1st 2008 - PRESS RELEASES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTS MOVEMENT
http://www.sportsfeatures.com/index.php?section=pp&action=show&id=46090

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Malaysia's Nicol David has maintained her lead at the top of the April Women's World Squash Rankings, published today (Tuesday) by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA).

Victory in last month's CIMB KL Open on home soil - where David notched up her 40th Tour final appearance - takes the 24-year-old from Penang into her 21st successive month at the top of the WISPA list.

Natalie Grinham, who celebrated her maiden Tour appearance as a Dutch player in the KL Open, holds onto second place for the 15th month in a row after finishing as runner-up in Kuala Lumpur.

Natalie's sister Rachael Grinham, from Australia, remains at three, while American Natalie Grainger is at No4, and England's Tania Bailey at No5.

Jenny Duncalf, runner-up in last December's Carol Weymuller Open in New York, is the highest riser - moving two places to a career-high equalling No6 to become the second-placed English player in the list.

Hong Kong's Rebecca Chiu, who beat Duncalf in the KL Open, also rises to a former career-best No13.

But two players celebrate best-ever positions in the April rankings: New Zealand's Jaclyn Hawkes consolidates her position in the top 20 by moving up a single place to No17 - boosted by title success in last month's NSC Tour 12 No1 in Malaysia.

After becoming the first Mexican to make the world top 20 in February, Samantha Teran now moves up to 19 after clinching her second WISPA World Tour title of the year last month at the Windy City Open in Chicago.

Sharon Wee returns to the top 20 for the first time this year - doubling the Malaysian content of the elite group by returning to No20.

1 [1] Nicol David MAS
2 [2] Natalie Grinham NED
3 [3] Rachael Grinham AUS
4 [4] Natalie Grainger USA
5 [5] Tania Bailey ENG
6 [8] Jenny Duncalf ENG
7 [7] Shelley Kitchen NZL
8 [6] Vicky Botwright ENG
9 [9] Omneya Abdel Kawy EGY
10 [10] Vanessa Atkinson NED
11 [11] Alison Waters ENG
12 [12] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro ENG
13 [14] Rebecca Chiu HKG
14 [13] Madeline Perry IRL
15 [15] Kasey Brown AUS
16 [16] Engy Kheirallah EGY
17 [18] Jaclyn Hawkes NZL
18 [17] Annelize Naude NED
19 [20] Samantha Teran MEX
20 [22] Sharon Wee MAS

For the complete WISPA ranking list, see www.wispa.net

Issued by Howard Harding on behalf of WISPA
Women’s International Squash Players' Association
Tel: (+44) 1737-243333; Mobile: (+44) 7773-325130; Email: HowHard@aol.com
WISPA: Tel: (+44) 20 7222 1667; Email: wispahq@aol.com
WSQ 4405 1 April 2008