WORLD SQUASH NEWS

Rachael Confirmed As World No1

Today's (Monday) publication of the new August Women's World Squash Rankings, produced by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA), confirms that Australia's Rachael Grinham has succeeded England's Cassie Jackman as world No1.

Grinham's first-time achievement as the world's top woman squash player was clinched when the 27-year-old from Queensland reached last week's final of the Brunei International after beating her younger sister Natalie in the semi-finals.

"Am I definitely number one now, can I tell my friends for sure?" asked Cairo-based Rachael when she came off court after the Brunei battle with Natalie - to become the next Australian to top the women's list since the retirement of five-times world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald in February 2003.

Despite pulling out of the WISPA Gold event with an Achilles injury, Jackman retains her place within the top two - ahead of the eventual Brunei International champion Vanessa Atkinson.  Seeded below Grinham, world No3 Atkinson upset the new world No1 in a dramatic five-game final in the Brunei capital Bandar Seri Begawan - and, after claiming her fifth WISPA title of the year, is moving closer to the world's top two.

In an otherwise relatively unchanged list, England's Linda Elriani overtakes compatriot Fiona Geaves to rise to six, while Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy moves up two places to a career-high-equalling tenth place.


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


For the complete WISPA ranking list, see www.wispa.net