Fernandes still just outside world’s top 100

LONDON, England, CMC – Guyanese squash ace Nicolette Fernandes remains just outside the top 100 in the latest women’s world squash rankings after dipping two places from her position last month.

 Nicolette Fernandes
Nicolette Fernandes

The August ratings for the Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) released yesterday show Fernandes at 103rd, down from 101st in July.

She has not played a major tournament on the international circuit since the Cayman Open in May when she lost in qualifying to the American Latasha Khan.

Her July position had represented a three-place climb for the resurgent 26-year-old, who is on the comeback trail after a career-threatening knee problem had sidelined her from the pro-circuit for almost two years.

On the back of some solid results during the first month of her comeback in March, Fernandes had made a huge leap from 215th to 113th in the April ratings.

She defeated several top-100 players while reaching the semi-finals of the Eindhoven Open and the final of the Swiss Open in March.

The Eindhoven Open was her first appearance on the WISPA circuit since the Qatar Open in April 2007.

Fernandes had attained a personal best WISPA rating of No.27 in May 2007 before knee surgery and rehab stalled her career and left her outside the World’s top 200.

Malaysia’s Nicol David retains the No.1 spot ahead of American Natalie Grainger, while Australian Natalie Grinham stays at No.3 ahead of her sister Rachael Grinham.

Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) Rankings – August
1 Nicol David (MAS)

2 Natalie Grainger (USA)

3 Natalie Grinham (AUS)

4 Rachael Grinham (AUS)

5 Alison Waters (ENG)

6 Jenny Duncalf (ENG)

7 Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)

8 Madeline Perry (IRL)

9 Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG)

10 Shelley Kitchen (NZL)

103rd Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)