Nicol David Stretches World Ranking Lead

03 June 2008
http://www.wispa.net/NM/anmviewer.asp?a=933&z=1
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Malaysia's Nicol David has stretched her lead at the top of the June Women's World Squash Rankings following her convincing victory in last month's Dunlop British Open, according to the list published today (Tuesday) by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA).

The 24-year-old from Penang celebrated her fourth successive appearance in the women's final in Liverpool - her straight games win over surprise English opponent Jenny Duncalf marking up her third title and the 27th WISPA World Tour trophy of her career.

David heads an unchanged top five, with Natalie Grinham at two; her older sister Rachael Grinham at three; USA's Natalie Grainger at four; and England's Tania Bailey at five.

But Jenny Duncalf jumps two places to a career-equalling-high No6 after her maiden British Open runners-up finish, as fifth seed.

Duncalf's England team-mate Laura Lengthorn-Massaro also has much to celebrate - after leaping three places to a best-ever ninth place in the list. The 24-year-old from Lancashire, who followed her surprise quarter-final British Open finish by making it to the Texas Open final last month, overtakes her county colleague Vicky Botwright, who slips to 11, for the first time.

Another three-place riser is Isabelle Stoehr, who moves to 15 and celebrates her highest ranking for more than two years. The 28-year-old from France enjoyed one of the best runs of her career in Liverpool when she reached the British Open semi-finals as a qualifier.

A runners-up finish in May's Subway Goshen Open in the USA - her second WISPA Tour final appearance of the year - sees the return to the top 20 of Malaysia's Sharon Wee, at 19.

1 [1] Nicol David
2 [2] Natalie Grinham
3 [3] Rachael Grinham
4 [4] Natalie Grainger
5 [5] Tania Bailey
6 [8] Jenny Duncalf
7 [7] Shelley Kitchen
8 [6] Omneya Abdel Kawy
9 [12] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro
10 [9] Vanessa Atkinson