Showing an 18-place jump from last month’s Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) rating off 88th, Fernandes starts the 2010 campaign at No.70, her highest ranking since November 2007 when she was 59th.
Sidelined with a career-threatening knee injury for almost two years, Fernandes had tumbled out of the WISPA top 100 in December 2007.
She returned to the pro circuit early this year to steadily resuscitate her career and finally reclaimed a top-100 spot at 88th in WISPA’s December 2009 ratings.
Her return to the top 100 list last month was assured by sturdy late season performances in Europe.
In November, she reached the semi-finals at the Santiago Open in Spain before capturing the Greek Open in Athens in early December for her first ever title success in a WISPA event.
Fernandes had reached an all-time personal best 27th in the world rankings in May 2007 before injury stalled her career.
The next best mover – after Fernandes — in January’s WISPA rankings is India’s Anaka Alankamony, who jumped 14 places from 101st to 87th.
Forexx World Open champion Nicol David, of Malaysia, easily retains the No.1 spot and now begins her fifth year – and 42nd consecutive month – in the top spot.
Australia-born Dutch player Natalie Grinham has returned to the No.2 spot, displacing Jenny Duncalf, of England.
Duncalf, who had suffered an upset loss to Fernandes at the 2006 World Open, is ranked third on the January 2010 list, followed by Australian Rachel Grinham and American Natalie Grainger.
Australia’s Kasey Brown moves up a single place to 10th, celebrating her debut in the world’s top frame.
Also enjoying a best-ever ranking in the New Year is Samantha Teran, the 28-year-old from Mexico City.
Teran, who was beaten by Fernandes in the 2006 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games final in Colombia, is the most successful Mexican woman ever by reaching No.14 on the WISPA list.
Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) Rankings – January 2010
1 Nicol David (MAS)
2 Natalie Grinham (AUS)
3 Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
4 Rachael Grinham (AUS)
5 Natalie Grainger (USA)
6 Alison Waters (ENG)
7 Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
8 Madeline Perry (IRL)
9 Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG)
10 Kasey Brown (AUS)
70th Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)
