6 times winner of the S A National Championships, Steve Coppinger, is ranked 16 in the world according to the latest rankings released this week by the PSA (Professional Squash Players Association).
A spectacular performance in the Men’s World Open Championships staged in Doho, Qatar in November last year where he reached the quarter-finals, the first South Africa to do so since Roland Watson in the seventies, saw him move from 21 to 18 in the January 2015 rankings. In this event Coppinger defeated the 8th seed Daryl Selby (Eng) in straight games in the first round before ousting the 10th seeded Tarek Momen (Egy)in 5 games in the 3rd round.
Second seeded Mohamed Elshorbagy put a stop to Coppinger’s giantkilling run by accounting for him in the quarterfinals.
January saw Coppinger competing in the Tournament of Champions in USA where he lost to 8th seeded Simon Rosner (Germany)in 4 close games in a match lasting 87 minutes.
The following week Coppinger caused the upsets in the Suburban Collection Motor City Open played in Michigan. The first round saw Coppinger defeat Egyptian Marwan Elshorbagy, ranked 14 in the world . 3rd seeded Peter Barker, ranked 8 in the world was the next seed to fall to Coppinger in the quarterfinals . In the semi – finals Max Lee (Hong Kong) became Coppinger’s next victim .
In a tough five game final lasting 112 minutes Coppinger eventually succumbed to Miquel Angel Rodriguez (Mex), now ranked 6 in the world.
South African Shaun le Roux is ranked 40 with Christo Potgieter at 142: Thoboki Mohohlo at 144: and J P Britz at 158.
National Champions, Siyoli Waters, remains at 34 on the Women’s ranking while Cheyna Tucker lies at 61. Capetonian Alex Fuller moves up 11 places to 93 three slots ahead of Milnay Louw at 96.
