Gaultier’s 14th month on top
By NATHAN CLARKE
Gregory Gaultier has drawn level with compatriot Thierry Lincou as the longest serving French World No.1 ever after the PSA Men’s World Rankings, released today (August 1), saw the 34-year-old record his 14th month atop the standings to equal Lincou’s reign between January 2004 to December 2005.
Gaultier, who tops the World Rankings for a third successive month, now sits joint 10th on the list of the longest ever reigns at the summit of the Men’s World Rankings, alongside former World Champions Lincou and Canadian Jonathon Power.
The rest of the world’s top 20 remains unchanged, with Karim Abdel Gawad, Mohamed ElShorbagy, Nick Matthew and Ali Farag competing the top five.
Former World No.1 James Willstrop of England sits at No.6 with Marwan ElShorbagy, Ramy Ashour, Tarek Momen and Fares Dessouky making up the rest of the seven-strong Egyptian contingent inside the world’s top 10.
Germany’s Simon Rösner, who won the World Games title in Wroclaw a few days ago, sits a place outside the top 10 at No.11, while Paul Coll, Daryl Selby, Ryan Cuskelly and Mohamed Abouelghar round out the top 15.
The 20-year-old Diego Elias, the first Peruvian to reach the world’s top 20, spends his third consecutive month at a career-high No.19 ranking, with South Africa’s Stephen Coppinger sitting a place behind him.
Elsewhere, India’s Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu won both the South Australian Open and Victorian Open in July and is rewarded with a 12-place increase to World No.65, making him the third highest-ranked Indian on the PSA World Tour.
PSA World Rankings: Top 20 for August 2017.
Picture and graphic courtesy of PSA