LONDON, England, CMC – Guyana’s international squash star Nicolette Fernandes jumped two places up the world rankings this month to 60th, her highest rating in almost 2-1/2 years.

Fernandes, who had tumbled down the Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) ratings due to inactivity from a career-threatening knee injury, has been climbing steadily up the world rankings since her return to the pro circuit a year ago.

Sidelined for almost two years after knee surgery in April 2007, Fernandes was listed 245th in the world when she began her comeback in March last year.

She gained throughout 2009 on the WISPA list to close last year with a No.88 rating, celebrating her return to the top 100 in the December rankings.

The 26-year-old Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games champion, honoured last month with her fourth Guyana Sportswoman of the Year award, claimed her first ever WISPA title when she won the Greek Open in December to earn a rating of No.70 in January 2010.

She improved to 62nd last month and the March rankings released Tuesday shows her at 60th, her highest world ranking since November 2007 when she was 59th.

Malaysia’s Nicol David retains the No.1 spot for a remarkable 44th consecutive month, with Australia-born Dutch player Natalie Grinham at No.2 and England’s Jenny Duncalf third.

So far this year, Fernandes has produced her best results at the Swedish Open and the Liberty Bell Open in Philadelphia where she she reached the semi-finals of both events.

Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) Rankings – March 2010
1 Nicol David (MAS)

2 Natalie Grinham (AUS)

3 Jenny Duncalf (ENG)

4 Rachael Grinham (AUS)

5 Alison Waters (ENG)

6 Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)

7 Madeline Perry (IRL)

8 Natalie Grainger (USA)

9 Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG)

10 Kasey Brown (AUS)

60th Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)