Top spot yet again, milestone for Ma Long
(by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor)
Top spot yet again, milestone for Ma Long
A milestone for Ma Long, listed in top spot on the Men’s World Rankings issued on Wednesday 2nd August, it is the 30th consecutive month that he has held the exalted position, the 60th occasion of his career.
He first acceded to the pinnacle in January 2010; the current run began in March 2015.
Once again, next in line are his colleagues, Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin; thus since November 2015, the top three names are the same and in the same order, a total of 22 publications.
Likewise there is no change in the immediately ensuing names; Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov remains at no.4, China’s Zhang Jike continues in the no.5 spot. Immediately below, Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Timo Boll, also from Germany, change places; Jun Mizutani is now at no.6, Timo Boll at no.7. Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting remains at no.8, followed once again as in July by Japan’s Koki Niwa.
The status quo but immediately below, Vladimir Samsonov, the winner of the Men’s Singles event at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Australian Open, climbs two places to no.12. Notably, the player he beat in the final, Frenchman Simon Gauzy, advances from no.16 to no.14 and thus equals the highest listing of his career. He reached the same position last November and earlier this year in January.
Sandwiched in between, China’s Fang Bo drops one place to 11, likewise, it is one position lower for Korea’s Lee Sangsu, he is now at no.12; Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan retains the no.13 position.
Significant progress for Simon Gauzy in that he equals his best ever status; for Japan’s Yuya Oshima and Masaki Yoshida, it is their best ever status. Yuya Oshima moves from no.19 to no.17, Masaki Yoshida from his prior best of no.22 to no.18; the previous highest for Yuya Oshima was no.18 in January 2016.
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MLTT is leveling… 
