Malaysia's Nicol David goes third with third-longest reign as squash world No 1

Nicol David, the biggest sports star in Malaysia, may have a mere 64 months to go until she can be considered the greatest ever woman to play the sport, but the 26-year-old is likely to garner many more months as world No 1 such is her unstoppable form on the world tour.

David this week moved into her 41st month as the world's best player, surpassing her mentor Sarah Fitz-Gerald - the Australian who won five World Open titles - as the player with the third longest ever reign at the top of the women's rankings.

The Malaysian first topped the world rankings for three months from January 2006 before regaining pole position that August.

With New Zealander Susan Devoy boasting a total of 105 months as world No 1, and Australian Michelle Martin holding second place in the all-time list with 58 months, David finally toppled her regular Australian training partner Fitz-Gerald, who achieved 40 months.

David claimed her fifth Malaysian Open title last month and retained the Singapore Masters title for the third successive time six days later. She dropped only three games over both events.

The Penang-born right-hander hopes to claim the 40th Tour title of her career at next week's British Open in Manchester, where she is seeded to win the title for the fourth time in five years.

David will play former world No 1 Vanessa Atkinson, of the Netherlands, in the opening round.