A month after completing her second full year as world number one, Malaysia's Nicol David now marks her 25th successive month at the top of the August Women's World Rankings - thereby overtaking Australia's Sarah Fitz-Gerald to establish the third-longest unbroken run in the history of the WISPA rankings.

Fitz-Gerald, the record five-time World Open champion from Melbourne, topped the rankings unchallenged for 24 months from November 1996 to October 1998 - and went on to achieve a total of 40 months as world number one before retiring five years ago.

Nicol David now has only New Zealander Susan Devoy and Australia's Michelle Martin in her sights - Martin having notched up 44 successive months as number one from March 1993, following a 58-month run by Devoy from May 1988!

The 24-year-old from Penang continues to set the pace - in July winning the CIMB Malaysian Open for the fourth year in a row to claim the seventh Tour title in succession, and the 29th WISPA trophy of her career.

"Nicol reaching this milestone is a sign of the champion she is and a hint of the champion yet to come," said Sarah Fitz-Gerald on hearing the Malaysian's latest achievement.

David heads an unchanged top four, with Natalie Grinham at two; her older sister Rachael Grinham at three and USA's Natalie Grainger at four.

However, Jenny Duncalf celebrates a career-high world number five ranking in the new list - becoming the highest-ranked English woman for the first time.  The 25-year-old from Harrogate in Yorkshire reached her maiden British Open final in May and went on to claim quarter-final berths in both the Seoul Open in Korea and last month's Malaysian Open in KL.

Nicol David Stretches World Ranking Lead

The 24-year-old from Penang celebrated her fourth successive appearance in the women's final in Liverpool - her straight games win over surprise English opponent Jenny Duncalf marking up her third title and the 27th trophy of her career.

David heads an unchanged top five, with Natalie Grinham at two; her older sister Rachael Grinham at three; USA's Natalie Grainger at four; and England's Tania Bailey at five.

But Jenny Duncalf jumps two places to a career-equalling-high No6 after her maiden British Open runners-up finish, as fifth seed.

Duncalf's England team-mate Laura Lengthorn-Massaro also has much to celebrate - after leaping three places to a best-ever ninth place in the list.  The 24-year-old from Lancashire, who followed her surprise quarter-final British Open finish by making it to the Texas Open final last month, overtakes her county colleague Vicky Botwright, who slips to 11, for the first time.

Another three-place riser is Isabelle Stoehr, who moves to 15 and celebrates her highest ranking for more than two years.  The 28-year-old from France enjoyed one of the best runs of her career in Liverpool when she reached the British Open semi-finals as a qualifier.