Nicol, on top of the world.

Malaysia’s Nicol David begins her sixth year as world number one this month, according to the new January Women’s World Squash Rankings published today by the Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA).

The dominant force in women’s squash first topped the rankings in January 2006 – and, after dropping to second place for just four months in the year, is now celebrating her 57th month as world No1.

After her now regular early New Year training session in Melbourne with Australian legend Sarah Fitz-Gerald, 27-year-old David will return to World Tour action at the WISPA Gold Cleveland Classic in the USA on 30 January.

England’s Jenny Duncalf continues to shadow David in second place, ahead of fellow countrywoman Alison Waters at three, Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy in fourth place, and Australia’s Rachael Grinham at No5.

Annie Au

But lower in the list, Annie Au celebrates a career-high No12 ranking – and becomes the highest-ranked player from Hong Kong of all-time, moving ahead of former Asian Games champion Rebecca Chiu, who reached a best-ever 13th place in October 2007.

Au, a 21-year-old student at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, scored her biggest Tour title last month, winning the $20,000 Seoul Open in South Korea.

Malaysian Low Wee Wern, who was runner-up in Seoul, also marks a career-best ranking this month – rising two places to No13. The 20-year-old from Penang followed her 11th WISPA Tour final appearance in Korea by reaching the last eight of the Punj Lloyd WISPA Masters in Delhi.

And Egyptian teenager Nour El Tayeb continues her relentless surge up the rankings by moving to a best-ever 17th place. The 17-year-old from Cairo jumped from outside the top 30 into the top twenty last month to become the youngest player in the elite list.

January top 20 (inc. points average):

For the complete WISPA ranking list, see www.wispa.net

Our team! Sarah, Me, Michelle Martin, Donna and Rachael.

Last week I travelled to Palmerston North, New Zealand to represent Australia at the World Team Championships. Our team included former World Champions, Rachael Grinham, Sarah Fitzgerald and coach, Michelle Martin, who along with myself and Donna Urquhart created a strong unit—seeded 2nd at the Championships. I felt very honoured to be part of such highly regarded players and was very motivated to do well for the team.

Our pool consisted of Japan, India and Ireland and our first match was against the 15th seed Japanese team. Rachael sat out the first day and the team won all their matches in straight games.

On day 2, we came up against 10th seed India, who decided to rest their top player, Dipika Palikal who was struggling with injury. Rachael, Donna and I played and all won convincingly in straight sets.

Our final pool match was against Ireland, who also rested their number 1 player, Madeline Perry, who was also injured. I sat out for Australia and once again, the team didn’t drop a set, placing Australia at the top of our pool and onto the quarter finals.

As the USA team created an upset win over Holland, we were drawn to play them in the quarter finals. I played first, defeating Latasha Khan 11/3, 11/5, 11/6 to put Australia up 1/0. Rachael was looking good at 2/0 against Natalie Grainger, but Grainger fought back well to win 12/10 in the 5th. We were not worried though as Sarah showed that she is still a top player and won convincingly against the up and coming Olivia Blatchford 11/4, 11/1, 11/2.

After another upset with Malaysia defeating the defending champions, Egypt, we were drawn up against the team consisting of Nicol David, Low Wee Wern, Delia Arnold and Sharon Wee. The Malaysian team rested Wee Wern which meant, Sarah came up against Sharon Wee. Sarah dominated with a 11/4, 13/11, 11/7 win. Rachael was always going to have a tough time against World Number 1, Nicol David, and lost in 3 sets. I was the last to play and was trying to forget about everything but the game ahead. I knew it would be tough against Delia but I managed to stay strong throughout the match and win 11/7, 11/3, 12/10. With England winning their semi final 2/1 against the New Zealand Team, it set up another Australia/England final, which has occurred many times throughout the tournament’s history.

The playing order was 3-1-2 which meant I was playing last. Sarah opened for Australia against Sarah Kippax and again showed her dominance by winning 11/4, 11/4, 11/4. It also meant Sarah did not lose a set in the whole tournament. Next, Rachael was drawn to play World Number 2, Jenny Duncalf who had been playing well throughout the event. Jenny won the match 11/7, 11/4, 11/9. This meant I was playing the deciding match against World Number 9, Laura Massaro. Again, I tried to forget about everything and just focussed on the match ahead. Nerves did show up a bit for both of us but I was able to win the first 2 games 11/6, 11/9. Laura is a very consistent player and I knew she would never give up and she showed that in her semi final match defeating Joelle King after being 0/2 down. She played well in our third game to win 11/8. Neither of us wanted to give any opening to the other, which created some interference down the wall. I’m sure my team were biting their fingernails and I had to fight hard to come back and win the 4th game 11/8, which meant Australia was once again the World Team Champion.

I felt so honoured to be part of an amazing team, led by coach Michelle Martin, whose leadership and advice was instrumental to Australia’s victory.

Kasey Brown xx

Fitz-Gerald, Grinham to make Australian comebacks

Commonwealth Games 2002: Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Rachael Grinham in the Semi Finals.

Australian squash great Sarah Fitz-Gerald and former world number one Rachael Grinham will make their Australian comebacks at the Women’s World Teams Championship in the New Zealand city of Palmerston North from November 29-December 4.

Fitz-Gerald and Grinham will join New South Wales pair Kasey Brown and Donna Urquhart in the Australian team, which will be managed by Fitz-Gerald’s former teammate and great rival, Michelle Martin.

Fitz-Gerald retired from the world tour in 2003 but has remained incredibly fit and still plays in the A Grade men’s competition in Melbourne.

The 41-year-old, who was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame last month, has won five individual world titles and five team titles, as well as five Australian Opens and two British Opens.

Grinham last played for Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne but had made herself unavailable since then due to a falling out with officials.

However, Grinham and Squash Australia have enjoyed better relations in recent months and the 33-year-old from Toowoomba contacted Squash Australia after the Delhi Commonwealth Games and expressed interest in rejoining the Australian set-up.

Grinham played for Australia at the 2002 and 2004 Women’s World Teams Championships, winning the title in 2002 in a team that also included Fitz-Gerald.

“It’s very exciting to welcome Sarah and Rachael back into the team,” Martin said.

“Rachael’s current record speaks for itself – she’s been one of the top players on the women’s tour for a decade now and on her day she can beat anyone in the world.

“And Sarah is simply a living legend of the sport. Although she’s been ‘retired’ since 2003 I think she still plays almost every day.

“With Kasey and Donna thrown into the mix, Australia have gone from outsiders at the tournament to one of the favourites.”

Squash Australia CEO Gary O’Donnell stressed that the selections of Fitz-Gerald and Grinham were a huge boost for Australian squash.

“Once Rachael expressed an interest in coming back we welcomed her with open arms, while Sarah will give the team much needed experience, as well as her undoubted talent,” O’Donnell said.

“We have some gifted young women coming through, led by Kasey Brown and Donna Urquhart, who will both build on their Delhi success through this team.

“We can do well now and create momentum at this early stage for Glasgow in 2014.”

O’Donnell said Queensland’s Lisa Camilleri would be the non-travelling reserve and would remain in Melbourne to train with former world number one Vicki Cardwell.

Nicol David Aiming To Be In ‘Seventh Heaven’ In Sharm El Sheikh

Undefeated throughout this year, Malaysia’s world number one Nicol David hopes to be in ‘seventh heaven’ next week in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh where she is seeded to win her seventh WISPA World Tour squash title of the year at The Soho Square World Open.

The 2010 Women’s World Open, the premier championship on the women’s tour and first in the event’s 31-year history to be held in Egypt, boasts a record prize fund of $147,000.

The tournament, from 18-22 September, will be staged on an all-glass show court at Soho Square Sharm El Sheikh, part of the premier resort in Sharm El Sheikh’s shopping and entertainment complex where a successful Soho Square WISPA Tour event was held in 2009.

Nicol David, Malaysia’s most successful sportswoman of all-time, is back at the top of her game after contrasting fortunes over the two previous years:  In 2008, the 27-year-old from Penang secured ten titles in a row without defeat, yet the following year suffered four shock defeats while ‘only’ picking up seven Tour titles.

David is delighted to be competing in Sharm El Sheikh for the first time:  “I’ve been to Sharm for a day trip, but this is my first time playing there – so I’m even more excited about it.”

“I’ve heard all good things of how the event has been run in the previous squash tournaments held there – and to be at a beach resort is an added bonus!”

Young Egyptians such as the pictured Raneem El Weleily is slated to give the top seeds a tough time.

“As Egypt is a big power house for squash overall, this is a great chance to showcase the sport while giving us players a chance to play in a brand new location with perks.”

2010 has proved to be a great year already for the Malaysian Squash Princess:  In July, David reached her eighth Malaysian Open final in a row, then celebrated her sixth successive success – and in last month’s Hong Kong Open clocked up her 47^th Tour title in the 62^nd Tour final appearance of her career.

“I’m enjoying everything about the tour and it’s been great so far with the tournaments,” admitted the modest Penangite. “No doubt it’s always hard work keeping up with things but I love the game so much that it keeps me going.”

The Legendary Sarah Fitzgerald

Success in Sharm El Sheikh would give Nicol David a record fifth World Open title – an achievement she would share with close friend and mentor Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the distinguished Australian who retired with 62 WISPA Tour titles to her credit.

“Equalling her record would certainly be an amazing accomplishment for me, especially knowing that Sarah has done it all in the squash world and she really is a true champion,” said David.

“But at the moment, my main focus is working on a performance base and the results will follow accordingly.”

Nicol David begins her 2010 world title campaign against a qualifier – and is scheduled to face Jenny Duncalf, the world No2 and second seed from England, in the final.

1st round draw:

[1] Nicol David (MAS) v Qualifier

[12] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) v Qualifier

[8] Natalie Grinham (NED) v Low Wee Wern (MAS)

[14] Samantha Teran (MEX) v Isabelle Stoehr (FRA)

[4] Alison Waters (ENG) v Qualifier

[9] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Qualifier

[7] Natalie Grainger (USA) v Sarah Kippax (ENG)

[15] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) v Qualifier

[11] Kasey Brown (AUS) v Qualifier

[6] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Delia Arnold (MAS)

[16] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) v Donna Urquhart (AUS)

[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Qualifier

[10] Camille Serme (FRA) v Qualifier

[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v Aisling Blake (IRL)

[13] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) v Joelle King (NZL)

[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Annie Au (HKG)

For all the latest information, check out the official website: www.sohosquareworldopen.com/2010

Nicol David Seeded To Win Record-Equalling Fifth World Title In Egypt

Nicol gunning for her 5th World Title

Malaysia’s world number one Nicol David is set to equal Australian Sarah Fitz-Gerald’s record five women’s world squash titles in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Soho Square at Sharm El Sheikh next month, according to the draw for The Soho Square World Open revealed by the Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA).

The first Women’s World Open ever to be held in Egypt, the leading event on the WISPA World Tour will feature a record prize fund of $147,000.

The tournament will be staged on an all-glass show court at Soho Square Sharm El Sheikh, part of the premier resort in Sharm El Sheikh’s shopping and entertainment complex. Following the successful Soho Square WISPA Tour event held in 2009, the high-end destination resort built permanent squash courts, on which the three rounds of qualification will be played.

It was in December 2005, three years after Sarah Fitz-Gerald made history with her fifth world title in Qatar, that Nicol David began the assault on her mentor’s record. The 26-year-old from Penang clinched her fourth world title in five years last September, beating Dutch rival Natalie Grinham in the final in her hometown of Amsterdam.

Natalie Grinham & Vanessa Atkinson are in Nicol's half of the draw

David, who has dominated the women’s game since first topping the world rankings in January 2006, has already overtaken one of Fitz-Gerald’s achievements – surpassing her regular Australian training partner to become the player with the third longest reign at the top of the women’s rankings.

Nicol David begins her 2010 world title campaign against a qualifier – and is scheduled to face Jenny Duncalf, the second seed from England, in the final.

But the Malaysian could come up against Natalie Grinham in the quarter-finals in a repeat of the 2009 final. Grinham, the No. 8 seed, is making her Tour comeback after giving birth to her first child, son Kieran, in May.

Jenny Duncalf became world No. 2 last December following two shock wins over David. But the Penangite re-established her authority over 27-year-old Duncalf with victories in three WISPA Gold event finals this year.

Jenny is a strong contender for the title

Duncalf faces rising Hong Kong star Annie Au in the first round and is likely to go on to meet fifth seed Omneya Abdel Kawy in the quarter-finals. The 25-year-old Egyptian has long been a thorn in Duncalf’s side – and boasts an 8-2 head-to-head Tour record over the Englishwoman.

If Duncalf does progress to the semi-finals, her anticipated opponent would be Rachael Grinham, the third seed from Australia who is one of two former world champions in the draw. The 33-year-old Queenslander won the title in 2007 after beating younger sister Natalie in the final in Madrid.

But Grinham senior also has a tough potential quarter-final clash – with Ireland’s Madeline Perry, the sixth seed who celebrated the biggest tournament win of her career at the Australian Open in Canberra on Sunday.

Former world number one Natalie Grainger will be returning to World Open action after missing the 2009 event because of a foot injury. The No. 7 seed from the USA made her debut in the 1993 event in her then home country South Africa. Runner-up in 2002, Grainger will face England’s Sarah Kippax in the opening round in Egypt.

Dutch star Vanessa Atkinson will be making her 14th successive appearance in the championship. The 2004 champion is the 15th seed, and faces a qualifier in the first round.

Former World Champions

1st round draw:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v Qualifier
[12] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) v Qualifier
[8] Natalie Grinham (NED) v Low Wee Wern (MAS)
[14] Samantha Teran (MEX) v Isabelle Stoehr (FRA)
[4] Alison Waters (ENG) v Qualifier
[9] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Qualifier
[7] Natalie Grainger (USA) v Sarah Kippax (ENG)
[15] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) v Qualifier
[11] Kasey Brown (AUS) v Qualifier
[6] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Delia Arnold (MAS)
[16] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) v Donna Urquhart (AUS)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Qualifier
[10] Camille Serme (FRA) v Qualifier
[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v Aisling Blake (IRL)
[13] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) v Joelle King (NZL)
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Annie Au (HKG)

For all the latest information, check out the official website: www.sohosquareworldopen.com/2010

Vicki Cardwell and me at Westerfolds

It’s 2010 and I’m here in Melbourne having a fantastic summer of training and experiencing the happenings in Melbourne city. As you know this is the best time of the year to be here and what better way to spend it than training with former World Champions who happen to live here!

First week—I was training with former World Champion and 4-time British Open Champion, Vicki Cardwell at her club in Westerfolds. Her son Josh and daughter Sarah are in the squash circuit and I had a chance to get on court with Josh while training with other players working with her. She shared a lot of her experience while she was competing and it was great that she was willing to work with me.

Sarah Fitz-Gerald and me at the Kooyong Classic Tennis

After a week with Vicki, I was back in MSAC and Moorabbin following up my training with Sarah Fitz-Gerald, 5-time World Champion and 2-time British Open Champion. This is my fourth summer in Melbourne now and Sarah is always so welcoming. We’ve been working together with another squash player from South Africa, Cheyna Tucker while training with the group of players Sarah gets together for us. I always look forward to her experience—it’s a treat to be on the same court as her.

While I’m mainly here for Squash, another great part of being here in the summer would have to be the tennis events! Sarah was invited to a President’s Lunch at the Kooyong Club while the Kooyong Classic tennis tournament was going on and another squash friend of hers got tickets for us to watch the Australian Open tennis. We saw nearly all the top players at Kooyong and witnessed Rafael Nadal doing the opening match for the evening at the Rod Laver Arena. We had another squash friend of ours who plays a major role in the World Squash Federation and a loyal Hong Kong squash representative, Heather Deayton, join us to enjoy the tennis action at the Australian Open. The atmosphere is awesome that is why I always try my best to go every year.

Sarah, Cheyna and me at the Kooyong Club

Heather, Sarah, Cheyna and me at the Rod Laver Arena

As summer flew by, I met a lot of new people, took comfort with familiar faces and came across plenty of activities—all lined up to keep this city vibrant during the summer. I am looking forward to more training that is come during my stay here til the end of the month.

G’day to all from Down Under!