Vanessa Atkinson Retains World No1 Ranking

Vanessa Atkinson retains her position at the top of the new May Women's World Squash Rankings, issued by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA).

The 30-year-old Dutch star - unbeaten this year on the WISPA World Tour with three 2006 titles to her credit - has extended her lead ahead of Malaysia's Nicol David. The World Open champion from Penang remains in second place, ahead of Australian sisters Rachael Grinham and Natalie Grinham, at three and four, respectively; and England's Vicky Botwright in fifth place.

England's Jenny Duncalf rises to a career-best No6 ranking in the new list. The 23-year-old from Harrogate in Yorkshire won the Greenwich Open in the USA in January,

Two further English players celebrate best ever rankings - Londoner Alison Waters moves up a single place to 11, while Lancashire's Laura-Jane Lengthorn rises to No12.

Egypt's Engy Kheirallah, who reached last month's Texas Open final against the seedings, jumps three places to a career-high world No17.

Former world No1 Natalie Grainger tumbles out of the top ten for the first time since March 2002. The 28-year-old WISPA President from the USA, who has suffered a series of injury setbacks over the past eighteen months, drops from seven to 15.

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