By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor
Diego Elias has become the first Peruvian to reach the world’s top five after his recent win in Qatar lifted him up the PSA Men’s world rankings for November.
The 24-year-old Elias, from Lima, made history in October as he became the first Peruvian to win a PSA World Tour Platinum event, the Qatar QTerminals Classic, while he also reached the semi finals of the U.S. Open presented by Truist.
As a result, Elias has risen three spots to a career-high No.5 ranking. His victory in the Qatar final against New New Zealand’s Paul Coll was considered a classic by connoisseurs.
Egypt’s world champion Ali Farag has made it 23 months in total at World No.1. while Mohamed ElShorbagy stays at No.2, with Qatar runner-up Coll and Tarek Momen remaining at three and four.
U.S. Open champion Mostafa Asal has moved up four places to a career-high No.6 ranking, while Fares Dessouky stays at No.7. Marwan ElShorbagy falls three places to No.8, with Welshman Joel Makin staying at No.9. The 2016 World Champion Karim Abdel Gawad suffers a four-place drop to No.10, which is his lowest ranking since October 2018, following a period of injury problems.
Meanwhile, Mazen Hesham has risen two spots to a career-high No.11 ranking. Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez and France’s Gregoire Marche fall a place each to No.12 and No.13, while Mohamed Abouelghar moves up to No.14. India’s Saurav Ghosal moves up a place to No.15.
There are career-high rankings in store for Youssef Soliman and Eain Yow Ng. Soliman moves up three places to No.16, while Eain Yow rises to No.17. Youssef Ibrahim falls to No.18, while Germany’s Raphael Kandra returns to the top 20 for the first time since May 2019, rising three spots to No.19.
Frenchman Baptiste Masotti breaks into the top 20 for the first time in his career after enjoying a five-place rise.
In terms of British players, Makin remains way out in front at nine in the world, with James Willstrop the highest-ranked Englishman at 24.
Adrian Waller, who has made it into the first round draw of the Canary Wharf Classic following the withdrawal of Mohamed ElSherbini, is next at 28, with Declan James at 32, Patrick Rooney 33, Scotland’s Greg Lobban at 34, with George Parker at 37 and Tom Richards 38. Nathan Lake is at 44 and Scot Alan Clyne at 50.
The biggest mover on the men’s tour is Canada’s George Crowne, who rises 321 places to No.444 following a run to the quarter-finals of the Canadian Senior Championships and an appearance at the Boston Open.
Malaysia’s Danial Nurhaqiem is the other biggest mover, moving up 291 places to No.445 after his appearances at the SRAM PSA 5 and 6 last month.
PSA Men’s World Rankings Top 20 – November 2021.
Picture and graphic courtesy of PSA