Updated singles and doubles rankings published

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RFA Rankings

9 November 2021

Now that tournament Fives is back up and running again, the RFA has today published the latest Open Singles and Doubles Rankings (which you can see on the Rankings page on this website), along with the following update from the RFA’s Rankings Tsar, Dave Hebden:

This update reflects the singles and doubles results from the London and West of England events held over the last month. The new Singles Rankings hold particular significance, because they will be used as the basis for determining the seeding in the forthcoming National Singles Championships.

In the Singles list there are not too many dramatic changes, so perhaps the main interest lies in the respective positions of the “Big Three” – Tristao, Kay, and Ellison. With Ed Kay winning three of the 5 events held this season I had thought that there was a good chance that he would take over the number one position. In the end, although the gap was closed, Dan Tristao held on to top spot by a narrow margin. It turned out that Dan’s better record against Will over the last 3 years was sufficient to keep him at the top. I suppose that a top spot going into the National Singles for a player who has won that event on the last four occasions is not really too contentious. Will Ellison’s win at the London sees him move a little closer to the top two, and we look forward to some great tussles in the Nationals.

Lower down, Cameron Low moves into the top 30 after a good performance in the West of England Plate. We also say goodbye from the Singles rankings, for now at least, to Hamish Buchanan, three-time National Champion in 1999, 2001 & 2007, a player who has graced the rankings over a very long period.

In the Doubles, Ellison, Kay and Arnold remain in the top three places, while Dan Tristao moves up to #4 and Charlie Brooks to #5.

It’s encouraging to see a clutch of 10 new entries in the Doubles rankings. Ben Hale & Helena Tunks, Savanna Leboff & Ben Yass, and James Toop & Gwydion Wiseman were all quarter-finalists in the London Open, while Boris Ames & Will Bucknell reached the quarter-finals of the West of England Open. Will Edmonds & Emrys Thursfield also did well in the London Plate. We now have four female players in the Open Doubles rankings, a record I think.

Finally, I’m pleased to say that entry levels for the 2021-22 season have held up pretty well, despite the recovery from the Covid disruptions.