By ALAN THATCHER (Squash Mad Editor)
Paul Coll has returned to the top of the men’s world rankings for the first time since May.
The 30-year-old New Zealander has reclaimed the world No.1 spot from Egypt’s Ali Farag in the latest update to the PSA World Rankings today (October 3).
Coll overtakes Farag after world champion Farag’s points for the 2021 Oracle NetSuite Open expired, meaning Coll’s ranking points are now higher than his rival’s.
Coll did have an opportunity to take the World No.1 spot a week earlier when he went up against Farag in the final of the CIB Egyptian Open on September 25, but Farag put in an accomplished display to take the title in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
The Kiwi is guaranteed to hold on to the No.1 spot until October 17, at which point Farag can retake it if he betters Coll’s results at the upcoming U.S. Open, which takes place between October 8-15 at Philadelphia’s Arlen Specter US Squash Center.
The rest of the top five features Egypt’s Mostafa Asal, Peru’s Diego Elias and England’s Mohamed ElShorbagy.
In the PSA Women’s World Rankings, England’s Georgina Kennedy has returned to the top 10 after dropping out the previous week.
Also moving up are Belgian sisters Tinne Gilis and Nele Gilis (to No.11 and No.12, respectively) with that ranking being a career-high for Tinne. The two sisters met in the recent final of the Open de France in Nantes, with Nele taking the title.
Egypt’s Salma Hany drops three spots to No.13 after seeing her points for her runner-up finish at last year’s Oracle NetSuite Open expire. Meanwhile, Emily Whitlock of Wales rises a spot to No.19, swapping places with India’s Joshna Chinappa.
Nouran Gohar stays at No.1 for a 27th successive week ahead of fellow Egyptians Hania El Hammamy and Nouran Gohar, with USA’s Amanda Sobhy and New Zealand’s Joelle King taking the final spots inside the top five.
The biggest mover on the women’s tour is Egypt’s Hana Ismail, who rises 69 places to World No.229. Kuwait’s Abdullah Almezayen is the biggest men’s mover, rising 540 spots to World No.289 following his runner-up finish at the 1st Kuwait International Squash Championship last week.
PSA World Rankings for Monday October 3, 2022.
Pictures and graphics courtesy of PSA World Tour