Willstrop Stands Tall In New World Rankings
by Howard Harding
1 March 2012 - Victory in last month's PSA World Series Davenport North American Open has not only seen England's James Willstrop reclaim the world number one ranking - but open up a 250 point lead over his nearest rival in the new March Dunlop PSA Men's World Squash Rankings, published today by the Professional Squash Association.
Following a sensational three PSA World Series title run at the end of last year, the 28-year-old from Leeds became world number one for the first time in January.
But defeat to Nick Matthew in the final of the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York later in the month led to his English rival taking back the title in February.
But Willstrop's latest success in Virginia, coupled with a shock semi-final exit by his fellow Yorkshireman, sees the new North American Open champion take pole position in the rankings while Matthew slips to third place - his lowest ranking since December 2009!
It is Frenchman Gregory Gaultier who rises to the No2 position. The 29-year-old from Aix-en-Provence is enjoying his best form on the PSA World Tour since topping the rankings for a single month in November 2009.
Gaultier notched up the 20th Tour title win of his career at last month's Case Swedish Open - then made it through to the NAO semi-finals in Richmond before losing to Willstrop.
A trio of Egyptians occupy the next three places in the March rankings - Karim Darwish at four; Ramy Ashour, runner-up in Virginia on his Tour return after injury, at five; and Amr Shabana in sixth place.
It is lower down the top 20 list that Germany's Simon Rosner becomes the only player to celebrate a career-high ranking.
The 24-year-old from Paderborn is enjoying a sparkling Tour run - and hit the headlines in Virginia where he progressed through to the last eight unseeded to mark his first appearance in the quarter-finals of a PSA World Series event.
Rosner moves up two places to No18.
March 2012 Top 20 (includes points average):
1 [2] James Willstrop ENG 1,546
2 [3] Gregory Gaultier FRA 1,296
3 [1] Nick Matthew ENG 1,261
4 [4] Karim Darwish EGY 965
5 [5] Ramy Ashour EGY 872
6 [6] Amr Shabana EGY 640
7 [7] Peter Barker ENG 635
8 [8] Mohamed El Shorbagy EGY 622
9 [9] Laurens Jan Anjema NED 468
10 [10] Mohd Azlan Iskandar MAS 404
11 [12] Daryl Selby ENG 394
12 [13] Thierry Lincou FRA 380
13 [14] Omar Mosaad EGY 362
14 [11] Hisham Mohd Ashour EGY 350
15 [15] Cameron Pilley AUS 349
16 [17] Adrian Grant ENG 319
17 [16] Alister Walker BOT 312
18 [20] Simon Rosner GER 307
19 [18] Tarek Momen EGY 304
20 [19] Tom Richards ENG 283
North Americans In Top 100
28 Julian Illingworth USA
31 Shahier Razik CAN
52 Arturo Salazar MEX
54 Shawn Delierre CAN
55 Cesar Salazar MEX
64 Eric Galvez MEX
83 Christopher Gordon USA
92 Andrew Schnell CAN
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