Vanessa Atkinson
![]() Atkinson during 2009 Women's World Open | |||||||||||||||||||||
Full name | Vanessa Louise Atkinson | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Country | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||
Residence | Leeds, England | ||||||||||||||||||||
Born | (1976-03-10) 10 March 1976 (age 48) Newcastle, England | ||||||||||||||||||||
Turned Pro | 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Retired | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Plays | Right Handed | ||||||||||||||||||||
Coached by | Liz Irving | ||||||||||||||||||||
Racquet used | Karakal | ||||||||||||||||||||
Women's singles ![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | No. 1 (December, 2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Title(s) | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tour final(s) | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||
World Open | W (2004) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Last updated: 3 December 2019. |
Vanessa Louise Atkinson (born 10 March 1976 in Newcastle, England) is a former professional squash player from the Netherlands, who won the World Open in 2004 and reached the World No. 1 ranking in December 2005.
Atkinson was born in England, but her family moved to the Netherlands when she was still a child. She began playing squash as a youngster in Dordrecht. She now resides in Harrogate, Yorkshire, with her partner James Willstrop, himself a professional squash player.[1]
Atkinson's biggest win came in 2004 when she won the World Open title in Kuala Lumpur by defeating fellow compatriote Natalie Grinham (at that time still representing Australia) with a score of 9–1, 9–1, 9–5 in the final.[2] Atkinson also has won major tournaments in Qatar, New York, Monte Carlo, Malaysia and Ireland.
Atkinson retired from professional play in May 2011.
World Open
Finals: 1 (1 title, 0 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
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Winner | 2004 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ![]() | 9–1, 9–1, 9–5 |
Major World Series final appearances
Qatar Classic: 2 finals (2 titles, 0 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
---|---|---|---|
Winner | 2004 | ![]() | 9-4, 9-7, 9-6 |
Winner | 2005 | ![]() | 9-7, 9-4, 9-2 |
Malaysian Open: 2 finals (1 title, 1 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
---|---|---|---|
Winner | 2004 | ![]() | 9-2, 9-4, 9-0 |
Runner-up | 2005 | ![]() | 3-9, 9-3, 1-9, 9-1, 9-4 |
See also
References
External links
- Vanessa Atkinson at WISPA (archived)
- Vanessa Atkinson at Squash Info
- Interview at Squashtalk.com - June 1999
- [1]
Sporting positions | ||
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Preceded by Rachael Grinham Nicol David | World No. 1 December 2005 April 2006 – July 2006 | Succeeded by Nicol David Nicol David |
Awards and achievements | ||
Preceded by — | WISPA Player of the Year 2004 | Succeeded by |
- v
- t
- e
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Vicki Cardwell (1983/1984 – 12 m)
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Susan Devoy (1984/1993 – 105 m)
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Lisa Opie (1988 – 2 m)
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Michelle Martin (1993/1999 – 58 m)
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Sarah Fitz-Gerald (1996/2003 – 40 m)
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Cassie Jackman (2000/2004 – 16 m)
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Leilani Rorani (2001 – 11 m)
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Carol Owens (2002/2004 – 11 m)
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Natalie Grainger (2003 – 1 m)
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Rachael Grinham (2004/2005 – 16 m)
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Vanessa Atkinson (2005/2006 – 5 m)
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Nicol David (2006/2015 – 112 m)
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Raneem El Weleily (2015 – 4 m)
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Laura Massaro (2016 – 4 m)
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Nour El Sherbini (2016/2018 – 48 m & 4 w)
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Raneem El Weleily (2018/2020 – 23 m)
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Nouran Gohar (2020 – 9 m & 44 w)
- WISPA-WSA-PSA Rankings incepted in April 1983
- (year first held/year last held – number of months (m) & weeks (w))
- Current World No. 1 in bold, as of July 30, 2023