By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor
Two USA players will appear in the top 10 of the PSA women’s world rankings for the first time. Philadelphia-based Olivia Fiechter moved up a place to join fellow American Amanda Sobhy in the top 10 after the March rankings were released this week.
Fiechter was a runner-up at the Cincinnati Gaynor Cup during February and that has seen her rise one spot to a career-high ranking of No.10. Sobhy, meanwhile, stays at No.4 after losing out to Fiechter in the quarter finals of that event.
In October’s US Open, which was held in Philadelphia’s new Arlen Specter National Center, Fiechter beat Sobhy in the third round and then accounted for Belgium’s Nele Gilis before losing to eventual champion Nouran Gohar in the semi-finals.
This week in Chicago, Sobhy lost to New Zealand’s Joelle King in the Windy City Open quarter-finals and Fiechter was eliminated in the second round by England’s Georgina Kennedy.
Nour El Sherbini remains at No.1 for a 17th successive month and is followed by Nouran Gohar (No.2), Hania El Hammamy (No.3), Sobhy (No.4) and Sarah-Jane Perry (No.5).
The rest of the top 10 is made up of Joelle King (No.6), Salma Hany (No.7), Camille Serme (No.8) and Rowan Elaraby (No.9).
Kennedy slips out of the top 10 to No.11 and she is followed by USA’s Olivia Clyne at 12, Belgium’s Nele Gilis at 13, India’s Joshna Chinappa at 14 and Egypt’s Nadine Shahin at 15.
Canada’s Hollie Naughton rises to a career-high No.16 ranking, while Wales’ Tesni Evans drops three places to 17. Emily Whitlock (18), Melissa Alves (19) and Danielle Letourneau (20) take the last spots in the top 20.
Japan’s Akari Midorikawa is the biggest mover this month after she climbed 95 spots to reach No.189 courtesy of her maiden PSA title win at the Aida Sekkei Greetings Squash Championships last month.
Related article: Georgina Kennedy roars into the world top 10
PSA Women’s World Rankings Top 20 – March 2022.
Pictures courtesy of PSA