Vanessa Atkinson Reclaims World No1 Ranking

A solid run of three titles from three events played so far this year has taken Vanessa Atkinson back to the top of the new April Women's World Squash Rankings, issued today by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA).

The 30-year-old Dutch star first clinched the top sport in December - then immediately lost it to Nicol David in January after the Malaysian won the World Open at the end of the year.

But title successes since February in the Apawamis Open in the USA, the KL Open in Malaysia and the Tournament of Champions in New York - including two final victories over David and the milestone of her 20th WISPA title - have brought Atkinson back to the top of the pile after a three-month gap.

Nicol David slips to No2, while Australian sisters Rachael Grinham and Natalie Grinham remain at three and four, respectively; and England's Vicky Botwright holds onto fifth place.

Victory in last week's Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open, coupled with successes beyond her seeding in this year's Apawamis Open, KL Open and Tournament of Champions, take Ireland's Madeline Perry to a career-high No6 in the new list - a jump of three places.

1 [2] Vanessa Atkinson NED
2 [1] Nicol David MAS
3 [3] Rachael Grinham AUS
4 [4] Natalie Grinham AUS
5 [5] Vicky Botwright ENG
6 [9] Madeline Perry IRL
7 [6] Natalie Grainger USA
8 [7] Jenny Duncalf ENG
9 [8] Linda Elriani ENG
10 [10] Tania Bailey ENG
11 [11] Omneya Abdel Kawy EGY
12 [12] Alison Waters ENG
13 [13] Laura-Jane Lengthorn ENG
14 [14] Annelize Naude NED
15 [15] Shelley Kitchen NZL
16 [16] Fiona Geaves ENG
17 [18] Isabelle Stoehr FRA
18 [17] Rebecca Chiu HKG
19 [19] Pamela Nimmo SCO
20 [20] Engy Kheirallah EGY