By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor

Egypt’s Nouran Gohar has ended compatriot Nour El Sherbini’s 17-month reign as the world No.1 after the PSA women’s world rankings for April were released today (April 1).

The 24-year-old from Cairo has been in sensational form throughout the 2021-22 season and since October has won five PSA tournaments, the US Open, the Detroit Classic, the Cincinatti Cup, the Windy City Open and the CIB Black Ball Open.

Those wins have seen her leapfrog El Sherbini to claim the World No.1 spot for the second time in her career and for the first time since October 2020.

Hania El Hammamy and Amanda Sobhy stay at No.3 and No.4, respectively, while New Zealand’s Joelle King returns to the top five for the first time since May 2019 after reaching the semifinals of both the Windy City Open and Black Ball Open in March.

England’s Sarah-Jane Perry moves down to No.6 ahead of Salma Hany at No.7, while Rowan Elaraby reaches a career-high ranking of No.8 after reaching her first Platinum semi at the Black Ball Open.

Meanwhile, Georgina Kennedy rises to her career-high ranking of No.9 after achieving back-to-back quarter finals at the Windy City Open and Black Ball Open, the former seeing her reach the last eight of a Platinum event for the first time.

France’s Camille Serme, who has been sidelined since September, 2021 due to a leg injury, completes the top 10.

USA’s Olivia Fiechter drops out of the top 10, while Belgium’s Nele Gilis rises a spot to a joint career-best No.12 ranking. India’s Joshna Chinappa is also on the move as she moves up to No.13, ahead of Tesni Evans at No.14 and Nadine Shahin who remains at No.15.

Nada Abbas rises five places to reach No.16, while Hollie Naughton drops down a spot to joint No.17 with Olivia Clyne. Emily Whitlock stays at No.19, while England’s Lucy Turmel moves up six spots to break into the top 20 for the first time. It’s the first time in over two years that three Englishwomen have been ranked inside the top 20 at the same time.

Egypt’s Nour El-Sharkawy is the biggest mover on the women’s tour this month. The 18-year-old appeared at the Black Ball Open in March and enjoys a 186-place rise to a career-high No.147 ranking.

PSA Women’s World Rankings Top 20 – April 2022.

Picture and graphic courtesy of PSA