Nour El Sherbini remains top of the women's world rankings ©PSA

Egypt's Nour El Sherbini and Nouran Gohar have remained one and two in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) women's world rankings for January, while the United States has three athletes in the top 20 for the first time in its history.

Despite both players suffering shock quarter-final defeats at the 2020 Black Ball Squash Open in Cairo last month they remain far ahead of the rest of the world.

France's Camille Serme has overtaken Egypt's Nour El Tayeb into third place following a run to the quarter-finals too.

Despite losing to England's Sarah-Jane Perry in the Black Ball Squash Open final, Egypt's Hania El Hammamy remains fifth ahead of Perry.

Black Ball Squash Open 2020 winner Sarah-Jane Perry remains sixth in the world rankings ©PSA
Black Ball Squash Open 2020 winner Sarah-Jane Perry remains sixth in the world rankings ©PSA

The United States Amanda Sobhy and New Zealand's Joelle King remain seventh and eighth, bridging a gap to those behind after solid semi-final performances in Cairo.

Elsewhere, the top 20 remains unchanged, except for Sabrina Sobhy, the younger sister of Amanda, breaking into the top 20 after making the second round in Cairo, where she lost to El Sherbini.

She goes level with Canada's Hollie Naughton, meaning that three American women are in the top 20 of the world rankings for the first time.

Olivia Clyne is the other American in the top 20, ranked 13th.