Guyana’s squash queen Nicolette Fernandes has moved 11 places up the Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) World Rankings when the group released their list for June yesterday.

Nicolette Fernandes

Fernandes now sits at 104 in the world compared to being ranked 115 in May. The local racket wielder is on a comeback trail after a career threatening knee injury last year.

Her highest ranking ever was in May of 2007 when she was placed at 27th in the world. But after sustaining the injury, Fernandes slipped to her lowest placing of 243.

But determination and hard work has led the former Caribbean squash queen to a strong recovery where she has featured in the top finishers of some high profile international tournaments with her most notable performance coming at the 2009 Swiss open in March where she narrowly lost in the finals to Camille Serme.

The 25-year-old Fernandes started playing squash at age six and has achieved numerous awards for her outstanding performances in the sport.

She was named Junior Sportswoman of the Year from 1999-2002 and copped the senior awards in 2000, 2001 and 2005 from the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Fernandes also wore the crown of the Southern Caribbean Games Ladies Championships in 2000, 2004 and 2006 and was also the Caribbean Ladies Squash Champion in 2005 and won the Junior Caribbean Title six times.

The year 2006 also turned out to be a golden one for Fernandes as she claimed the top podium position at the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC). In the same year, she was named the WISPA Most Improved Player.

To date, she is the only female Guyanese on the WISPA world rankings.
Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) rankings list for June 2009, shows Guyana’s Nicolette Fernandes at 104.
1 Nicol David (Malaysia)
2 Natalie Grainger (USA)
3 Rachael Grinham (AUS)
4 Natalie Grinham (NED)
5 Alison Waters (ENG)
6 Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
7 Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
8 Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG)
9 Madeline Perry (IRL)
10 Shelley Kitchens (NZL)
104 Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)