2 Sep 2008

Kitchen reaches world number six

6:22 am on 2 September 2008

The New Zealand squash number one Shelley Kitchen has reached a career high number six in the latest world women's squash rankings.

The 28-year-old from Auckland followed her shock second round World Open defeat of Nicol David in Madrid last year by notching up her 12th Tour title at the Harrow Greenwich Open at the beginning of the year - and last month consolidated her status as the top Kiwi by becoming the New Zealand National champion for the fourth time.

Malaysia's Nicol David moves into her 26th successive month as world number one, Australia's world champion Rachael Grinham overtakes her younger sister Natalie to reclaim second place.

The next best ranked New Zealander is Jaclyn Hawkes at number 19.