Madeline Perry (pic ri) leaps 3 places to a career-high No3 in the latest Women's World Rankings to become the highest-ranked Irish woman of all-time in the April list published by the WISPA. The list is headed by Nicol David (pic, le), the Malaysian who marks her 60th month as world No1, with England's Jenny Duncalf celebrating her 13th successive month in 2nd place. US teenager Amanda Sobhy moves up a single place to a best-ever No17. The 17-year-old left-hander from New York, the highest-ranked North American woman who became world junior champion last year. Top-10 (inc. points average): 1. Nicol David (MAS, 3235); 2. Jenny Duncalf (ENG, 1572); 3. Madeline Perry (IRL, 1196); 4. Rachael Grinham (AUS, 1126); 5. Alison Waters (ENG, 1086); 6. Kasey Brown (AUS, 992); 7. Laura Massaro (ENG, 978); 8. Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY, 956); 9. Camille Serme (FRA, 773); 10. Vanessa Atkinson (NED, 762).
Category: "players"
Perry Powers into World’s top three!
April 2, 2011 • Tags: Amanda Sobhy, Madeline Perry, Nicol David, WISPA, World Ranking • Categories: all posts, associations, players
Matthew extends World No1 lead!
April 2, 2011 • Tags: David Palmer, Karim Darwish, Nick Matthew, PSA, Ramy Ashour, World Ranking • Categories: all posts, associations, players, tournaments
The Canary Wharf Classic title success in London last month has extended Englishman Nick Matthew's (pic, le) lead at the top of the Dunlop PSA Men's World Squash Rankings, according to the April list published today by the PSA. In an unchanged top ten, Matthew leads Egyptian rival Ramy Ashour, with fellow Egyptian Karim Darwish - winner of last month's KL Open - in 3rd place, and England's James Willstrop at No4. The first riser in the new list is David Palmer (pic ri), the illustrious Australian who is a two-time World Open and four-time British Open champion. Hisham Ashour, the 28-year-old Egyptian who beat Palmer to lift the National Bank Financial Group Open title in Canada, rises to a career-high No14. Top-10 (inc. points average): 1. Nick Matthew (ENG, 1,568); 2. Ramy Ashour (EGY, 1,296); 3. Karim Darwish (EGY, 989); 4. James Willstrop (ENG, 897); 5. Amr Shabana (EGY, 832); 6. Greg Gaultier (FRA, 782); 7. Peter Barker (ENG, 618); 8. Thierry Lincou (FRA, 557); 9. Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY, 527); 10. Azlan Iskandar (MAS, 439).
In the army now: Azlan Iskandar!
March 30, 2011 • Tags: Azlan Iskandar • Categories: all posts, players
Malaysia's world No10 Azlan Iskandar (pic) changed his squash racket against a M16 army rifle. His intructor teaches him to get the same accuracy as with the racket - good shot Azlan.
Hisham Ashour takes Montreal crown!
March 26, 2011 • Tags: Canada, David Palmer, Hisham Ashour, Montreal, National Bank Open, PSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments
Egypt's 3rd seed Hisham Mohd Ashour (pic) continued his stunning run in the National Bank Open in Canada by upsetting No2 seed David Palmer in the final in Montreal to claim the biggest Tour title of his career. The 28-year-old from Cairo, who made his breakthrough in the previous round where he ousted Dutch favourite Laurens Jan Anjema, leapt to a 5-1 lead in the opening game. But the illustrious Palmer, the 34-year-old former world No1 and world champion who was celebrating his 55th appearance in a PSA Tour final, batted back to take the game. At 0-2 down, Ashour switched on, and as his movement improved, he began finding his marks at the front. Ashour went for his chances with his impressive shot-play to close out the match 9-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 after 46 minutes. The triumph represents the third Tour title of Ashour's career, but his biggest by a considerable margin.
Matthew retains Canary Wharf crown!
March 26, 2011 • Tags: Canary Wharf Classic, England, London Open, Nick Matthew, Peter Barker, PSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments
It was the world No7 that started well in this year’s Canary Wharf final. Englishman Peter Barker played the perfect game, but just for 15 Minutes which gave him the 1:0 lead. Nick Matthew (pic), the No1 of the world, did change his tactics to get back from that game down to level the match. Afterwards Barker had not much energy left in the tank to pressure Matthew seriously and after 58 minutes of play World Champion Matthew took his 2nd Canary Wharf crown in a row. “We want to retain the European title in May first before we are searching for the beach”, Matthew admitted after MC Alan Thatcher asked the champion for his plan during the summer.
Hisham Ashour downs Anjema to make Montreal Final!
March 25, 2011 • Tags: Canada, David Palmer, Hisham Ashour, Montreal, PSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments
According to the seedings for the National Bank Financial Group Open, Egypt's Hisham Mohd Ashour (pic) secured an unexpected place in the final in Montreal. But the win was the Egyptian's fifth in six Tour meetings with the world No12 from The Hague since October 2006. 3rd seed Ashour was trying to hit the nick at every given opportunity and took the 11-7, 10-12, 11-4, 15-13 after 61 minutes of play. The Egyptian, now in his 10th PSA Tour final, faces 2nd seed David Palmer after the veteran Australian clinched his 2nd Tour final place in a week - and the 55th of his career - by beating unseeded Alister Walker after a 92 minutes encounter (5-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6).
Barker downs Willstrop at London’s Docklands!
March 25, 2011 • Tags: Canary Wharf Classic, England, London, Nick Matthew, Peter Barker, PSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments
In the 1st semi-final, which showed an all-English encounter between James Willstrop (pic li) and Peter Barker (pic re), the 1st game needed 29 minutes to get a winner, which was Willstrop (16-14). Afterwards Barker showed top-form. Willstrop looked a bit flat and Barker took the next 3 games 11-1, 11-7, 11-8 to take his 2nd victory over Willstrop, by 21 defeats. The 2nd semi-final lasted just 31 minutes as the Frenchman Greg Gaultier had to concede the match against Nick Matthew (Eng) caused by an injury. In the all-English final the world No1 leads the head-to head by 14:1 victories.
Barker and Matthew battle through at Canary Wharf!
March 24, 2011 • Tags: Canary Wharf Classic, England, Greg Gaultier, James Willstrop, London, Nick Matthew, Peter Barker, PSA • Categories: all posts, players, tournaments
The 1st match between Englishman Peter Barker and Australian fellow Stewart Boswell was the longest match of the quarter-finals night at the Canary Wharf Classic in London. Coming back from 1 game down Barker managed to get a 2-1 lead. The 4th was a crucial game, as Boswell was not able to take one of his 6 chances to level the match, while Barker found the luckier end to his 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 17-15 victory. World No1 Nick Matthew (pic ri) got his revenge of his English country fellow Daryl Selby (pic le) for the British National defeat some weeks ago. Matthew needed 70 minutes to overcome Selby 11-1, 12-10, 7-11, 11-5. In the 2 remaining quarters Joey Barrington (ENG) and Simon Rosner from Germany did their best to avoid the win of their favourite opponents James Willstrop (ENG) and Greg Gaultier from France. In the end the more experienced players managed to stay ahead in straight games, but both had to work for it reasonably hard.
