Rachael Grinham Joins Top Five World Number Ones

Whilst the order of the top twenty might not have changed in the new September Women's World Squash Rankings, announced today by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA), Australia's Rachael Grinham moves into her 14th successive month in pole position - and celebrates a breakthrough into the top five women's number ones!

The first women's world rankings were published in April 1983, when Australian Vicky Cardwell ruled the game and headed the maiden list. Since then, nine more players have topped the rankings - with Cardwell pushed into fifth place of longest-serving world number ones, behind England's Cassie Jackman (16 months at No1); third-placed Australian Sarah Fitz-Gerald (40 months); second-placed Australian Michelle Martin (58 months); and runaway top-placed New Zealander Susan Devoy, who amassed a total of 105 months as the world's number one from April 1984 to February 1993!

But Grinham has now overtaken Cardwell to claim fifth position - hard on the heels of the now retired Cassie Jackman!

However, the 28-year-old from Toowoomba in Queensland will have to improve on the form she showed in July's Malaysian Open, when she bowed out at the semi-final stage. The October rankings will reflect the form of the players in next week's PMI Seattle Open in the USA, where top seed Grinham is expected to meet close rival Vanessa Atkinson - the world No2 from the Netherlands - in the final.

Such is the tiny points gap between the pair that only a slight stumble will see Grinham's 14-month reign come to an end.

Also likely to provide stern opposition for the Australian is Malaysia's Nicol David, the world No3 who beat Grinham in the Malaysian Open, but is drawn to face Atkinson in a semi-final showdown in Seattle.

By contrast to the static senior world rankings, the new WISPA Rising Stars ranking list for the Association's junior members boasts a new number one, and four players rising to the remaining positions in the top five! Egypt's Raneem El Weleily tops the new list, ahead of No2 Charlie de Rycke (Belgium); No3 Lily Lorentzen (USA); No4 Joshna Chinappa (India) and No5 Sally Looi (Malaysia).

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