 Matthew
Makes It Ten
 England's
Nick Matthew celebrates his tenth month as world
number one, according to the July Dunlop PSA Men's World
Squash Rankings.
After becoming England's first world No1 for six years in
June last year, the 30-year-old from Sheffield reclaimed the
top spot in January, since when he has held the title
unopposed.
In an unchanged top 20, Egypt's Ramy Ashour is at
No2, while compatriot Karim Darwish is in third place
and England's James Willstrop at No4.
Despite losing to rising Egyptian star Mohamed El
Shorbagy in last month's final of the Squash Pro
Internationaux de la Reunion on Reunion Island, Frenchman
Thierry Lincou has held off the rankings challenge of
the youngest player in the world top 20.
Lincou, who recently celebrated his 35th birthday, maintains
his grip on eighth place, with El Shorbagy reducing the gap
behind the former world champion at No9.
Two rising stars of European squash celebrate career-high
rankings just outside the top 20. Nicolas Mueller
consolidates his status as the top-ranked Swiss player of
all-time by moving up two places to 33.
Since reaching his first PSA World Tour final in May 2007,
the Zurich-based 21-year-old has been unbeaten in all finals
thereafter and now boasts seven Tour title triumphs.
Simon Rosner becomes the third highest-ranked German
of all-time after rising three places to No30. The
23-year-old five-time German National champion from
Paderborn upset top-seeded Pakistani Aamir Atlas Khan in
last month's Jena International Championship final in Kuwait
to win the fifth and biggest PSA Tour title of his career.
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 Annie
hits a new high
 Annie
Au underlines her status as Hong Kong’s highest ever
ranked player in this month’s new WISPA world rankings, the
22 year old jumps up one place to reach a career high of
nine.
In a fairly quiet month for the top players on the tour,
there weren’t too many other significant changes in the top
20.
The two finalists from the recently finished Boca Del Rio
International both move up two spots respectively.
Natalie Grinham edges herself slowly back towards the
top ten, rising to no.16, her highest ranking in almost a
year. Her conqueror in the final, Samantha Teran,
returns to no.19 in the rankings after a brief spell outside
the top twenty. Mexico’s greatest ever player, came from two
games down to stun Natalie Grinham and delight her home fans
in Veracruz.
There were a number of significant rises outside the top
twenty as well this month, with many up and coming players
recording career high rankings.
Most notably:
Heba El Torky makes her debut in the top 30 after
claiming the Egyptian Circuit 2 title. The 20 year old has
the best win-loss record in finals on tour, having been in
five and never lost one!
Melody Francis surges up to a high of 44. The 22 year
old Aussie recorded back to back wins at the Millicent Open
and the South Australian Open and will be looking to add
more titles during this month’s Australian circuit.
There were also career high rankings for: British Under 23
Champion Victoria Lust at 35, Olivia Blatchford at 36, Emily
Whitlock at 55 who reached the final of the Le Sport Open,
Milou Van Der Heijden at 56 who reached her first Silver
level quarter final in Mexico, Nouran El Torky at 59 who was
a semi finalist in Egypt, Stephanie Edmison at 70, Yathreb
Adel at 74, Amanda Landers-Murphy at 75 who reached her
first tour final at the South Australian Open, Tesni Evans
at 93 who also reached her first tour final and Lisa Aitken
at 94.
This month the world’s top players will be in action at the
World Series CIMB Malaysian Open and the Gold Singapore
Open. Nicol David, having spent her 60th month at No.1 will
be defending both her titles.
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