Fernandes moves up to 43rd

Nicolette Fernandes

LONDON, CMC – Nicolette Fernandes has made a move in the Women’s International Squash Players’ Association Rankings for the first time in six months.

The 28-year-old Guyanese has advanced three places to 43rd in the latest World Rankings released on Sunday.

Fernandes’ elevation comes on the heels of a runner-up finish at the Southwest Open last month, when she was beaten in the Final by World No. 25 Latasha Khan of the United States.

Nicolette Fernandes

She included World No. 30 Manuela Manetta in her list of conquests during the tournament, helping her to earn the  ranking points to make the move.
Fernandes is still short of her best ever World Ranking. She rose to the No.27 position four years ago before a career-threatening knee injury derailed her progression, sidelining her for close to two years.

This year, Fernandes also finished runner-up at the Alicia Hagedorn Classic last May. She had two quarter-final appearances in the Racquet Club Invitational in April and the Swiss Open in March, along with two first round exits at the Texas Open and the Atwater Cup in April.

In between, she came back to the region to clinch the Caribbean Championship title over previous champion Karen Meakins of Barbados. Fernandes is now taking part in the US $60,000 United States Open which ends tomorrow in the American city of Philadelphia.