Fernandes streaks to all-time high 29th
Guyana Chronicle
December 4, 2006
LONDON, England (CMC) – Caribbean champion Nicolette Fernandes has surged a notable six places up the Women's International Squash Players Association (WISPA) world rankings to an all-time high 29th.
Boosted by a superb win over highly ranked Briton Jenny Duncalf at the Women’s World Open in Belfast last month, Guyanese Fernandes made a significant leap from her November position of No.35 to secure a Top-30 position for the first time in her career.
She was the biggest mover in the world rankings – among the top fifty players – for the month.
On Wednesday, November 22, at the Ulster Hall in Belfast, Fernandes scored the biggest win of her career when she upset World No.8 and tournament sixth seed Duncalf 9-3, 9-0, 9-7 in the first round of the Women’s World Open.
The 23-year-old Fernandes lost her second round match to the in-form Laura-Jane Lengthorn, the current World No.12, in straight games but her triumph over Duncalf was enough to secure another significant rise in the world ratings.
Duncalf dipped one place in the December ratings to ninth in one of many changes in the Top-10.
Malaysia's Nicol David, who emerged champion at the World Open, remains World No.1 ahead of Australian Rachael Grinham, who displaces Dutch star Vanessa Atkinson at No.2.
England’s Tania Bailey and Ireland’s Madeline Perry each moved one place up to fifth and sixth respectively, while American Natalie Grainger jumped four places to re-enter the Top-10 at No.7.
England’s Vicky Botwright slipped three places to eighth, followed by Duncalf and Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy, who dropped one spot to 10th.
Fernandes, who gained steadily in the rankings this year, had entered the world's Top-50 late last year after a series of good international results and was Guyana's 2005 Sportswoman-of-the-Year.
The six-time Caribbean junior age-group champion copped her first Caribbean senior title last year in Trinidad and is the Caribbean’s first ever squash player on the pro circuit.
As a junior, Fernandes had won three Caribbean Under-19 titles, one Under-15 crown, and two Under-13 titles.
Earlier this year, she captured the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games gold medal in Cartagena, Colombia, in July and returned to the South American country in September to finish runner-up at the Pan-American Championship in Medellin.
Women's World Squash Rankings (December)
1. Nicol David (MAS)
2. Rachael Grinham (AUS)
3. Vanessa Atkinson (NED)
4. Natalie Grinham (AUS)
5. Tania Bailey (ENG)
6. Madeline Perry (IRL)
7. Natalie Grainger (USA)
8. Vicky Botwright (ENG)
9. Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
10. Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
29th Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)