LONDON, England, CMC – Guyana’s international squash star Nicolette Fernandes continues her rise up the world rankings and is up to No.62 in the February ratings released yesterday.

Nicolette Fernandes

Climbing eight places from her January position of 70th in the Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) ratings list is now heading for her first top 50 rating since October 2007 when she was 47th.

Sidelined for almost two years with a career-threatening knee injury, Fernandes used 2009 to regain her footing in international squash.

From a low ranking of 245th when she began her comeback in March last year, Fernandes steadily gained on the WISPA list to close last year with a No.88 rating, celebrating her return to the top 100 in the December rankings.

She began her 2010 campaign with a semi-final appearance at the Liberty Bell Open in Philadelphia.

Fernandes also contested the Harrow Greenwich Open in Connecticut where she defeated Australian World No.40 Lisa Camilleri in qualifying but failed to make the main draw after going down to World No.43 Manuela Manetta, of Italy.

The reigning Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games champion was the biggest mover among the world’s top 100 players in the January ratings, jumping from 88th to 70th.

Fernandes had reached an all-time personal best 27th in the world rankings in May 2007 before injury stalled her career.

Malaysia’s Nicol David retains the No.1 spot for the 43rd consecutive month, with Australia-born Dutch player Natalie Grinham at No.2 and England’s Jenny Duncalf third.

England’s Alison Waters, who won the Harrow Greenwich Open, moved up one place to displace American Natalie Grainger at No.5 in the only change in the top 10.
Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) Rankings – February 2010
1 Nicol David (MAS)

2 Natalie Grinham (AUS)

3 Jenny Duncalf (ENG)

4 Rachael Grinham (AUS)

5 Alison Waters (ENG)

6 Natalie Grainger (USA)

7 Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)

8 Madeline Perry (IRL)

9 Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG)

10 Vanessa Atkinson (NED)

62nd Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)