SquashTalk >Rankings section > WISPA Mar 1, 2005 Rankings
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Only the Computer Doesn't Know ... that Vanessa's Number One
London, Mar 1, 2004 by Ron Beck © 2005, photos © Debra Tessier and SquashTalk © 2004
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SQUASH
TALK WOMEN'S NEWS | |
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| Vanessa Atkinson ... #2 only on the WISPA computer ... © 2005 Debra Tessier |
Holland's Vanessa Atkinson, who won last week's Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions in New York, the first major WISPA World Tour event of the year, and prior to that defeated Rachael Grinham in the last two tour events of 2004, including the World Open, still trails Australia's Rachael Grinham in the lastest WISPA World rankings.
Grinham, the 28-year-old from Toowoomba in Queensland, has now failed to reach the final in three of the last four events in which she has competed - while Atkinson, from The Hague, is unbeaten in 14 matches, winning the Qatar Classic and World Open before her triumph in New York. The eight-times Dutch champion is poised to overtake Grinham at the earliest opportunity.
Meanwhile, the current rankings must surely force WISPA to take a look at the rankings algorithms, which do not give any larger weight to recent results than to results from as long ago as 12 months earlier.
The world top six remains unchanged from last month, with Rachael's younger sister Natalie Grinham at three, Malaysia's Nicol David at four, and England's Linda Elriani, the surprise victor over Grinham senior in New York, at five. Natalie Grainger, from the USA, stays at six.
Vicky Botwright become England's second-ranked player for the first time after moving up three places to a career-high No7 as a result of reaching the last four in New York. It was the Manchester-based 27-year-old's first appearance in a WISPA Grand Prix semi-final.
New Zealand's Shelley Kitchen also records a best-ever ranking - jumping two places to 11 in the list. Ireland's Madeline Perry also rises two positions to mark a career-best world No12 ranking. A five place leap takes Dutch No2 Annelize Naude to a career-best world No14.
England's 20-year-old Alison Waters makes her debut in the world top 20 - and becomes the second youngest player in the elite list - with a jump of three places to 20 after recording her maiden WISPA title last month when she won the Forbes Southport Open in the USA.
Meanwhile, American Lily Lorentzen (58) and Louisa Hall (60) continue their steady climb up the rankings totem pole.
WORLD RANKINGS, MAR 1 2005:
1 [1] Rachael Grinham AUS
2 [2] Vanessa Atkinson NED
3 [3] Natalie Grinham AUS
4 [4] Nicol David MAS
5 [5] Linda Elriani ENG
6 [6] Natalie Grainger USA
7 [10] Vicky Botwright ENG
8 [8] Jenny Tranfield ENG
9 [7] Omneya Abdel Kawy EGY
10 [11] Jenny Duncalf ENG
11 [13] Shelley Kitchen NZL
12 [14] Madeline Perry IRL
13 [12] Fiona Geaves ENG
14 [19] Annelize Naude NED
15 [17] Tania Bailey ENG
16 [16] Rebecca Chiu HKG
17 [15] Isabelle Stoehr FRA
18 [18] Pamela Nimmo SCO
19 [20] Stephanie Brind ENG
20 [23] Alison Waters ENG
OTHER AMERICAS PLAYERS IN TOP 100 AS OF MARCH 1 2005:
23 [22] Latasha
Khan USA
31 [32] Runa Reta CAN
36 [41] Samantha Teran MEX
37 [38] Alana Miller CAN
41 [40] Katie Patrick CAN
43 [46] Melaine Jans Burke CAN
47 [48] Marnie Baizley CAN
53 [51] Tara Mullins CAN
55 [56] Meredith Quick USA
58 [61] Lily Lorentzen USA
60 [76] Louisa Hall USA
66 [58] Shabana Khan USA
73 [70] Nicolette Fernandes GUY
85 [95] Ashley Clackson CAN
93 [90] Carlin Wing USA
101 [107] Britt Hebden USA
103 [109] Michelle Quibell USA
[complete rankings for February '05]
