There were two changes in the Top 10 this week when the ITTF released their World Rankings List for February. The first is a change at the top, where Xu Xin and Fan Zhendong switched places yet again. Xu Xin, who just won the German Open, is now the top player in the world, and Fan has slid one spot to No.2. The second change is the addition of Dimitrij Ovtcharov to the Top 10. Ovtcharov passed teammate Timo Boll to take the No. 10 position, in part on the strength of his Semifinal appearance at the German Open last weekend.
The rest of the Top 10 remains unchanged with Ma Long and Lin Gaoyuan in the No. 3 and No. 4 positions and with Tomakazu Harimoto at No. 5. These rankings are important to various qualifying events leading into the Olympic games, and it is also important to note that China has five players in the Top 10 while no other country has more than one player. However, based upon these rankings Japan would field a strong team with positions No.5, No. 12, and No. 15. Also, Germany would be in a solid third position with No. 10, No. 11, and No. 14.
Seven of the Top 10 players are from Asia. The only player in the Top 10 who is not from Asia or Europe is Hugo Calderano at No. 7. The next two players in the rankings outside of Asia and Europe are Quadri Aruna at No. 18 and USA’s Kanak Jha at No. 25.
Jha’s peak came last September when he achieved No. 22. His current position is the second highest of his career. After Jha, the next highest players in North America are Canada’s Jeremy Hazin at No. 146, and three US players: Kai Zhang (No. 172), Nikhil Kumar (No. 178(, and Nicholas Tio (No. 234). The top Latin Men in the rankings are all Brazillian with Calderano, Tsuboi, and Ishiy as the top three (at No. 7, 40, and 56 respectively). Brian Afanador (No. 84) and Daniel Gonzales (No. 140) of Puerto Rico are both in the Top 12 in Latin America.
In the Women’s rankings the top three players are all unchanged. Chen Meng, Sun Yingsha and Mima Ito continue to lead the world. Japan’s Ito is the only non-Chinese player in the Top 7. The first non-Asian player in the Women’s List is Sofia Polcanova of Austria who is No. 14. The top player from outside of Asia or Europe is Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz at No. 20, and the second and third ranked players from outside Asia or Europe are USA’s Lily Zhang (No. 28) and Jennifer Wu (No. 30). In looking at team configurations for the Olympics, obviously China has the strongest position. After China, Japan has three players in the World’s Top 11 and is a clear second seed. Then it would be Taipei with No. 10 and 26, Hong Kong with 15 and 29, Germany with No. 19 and 27, Romania with No. 22 and 34, and the US with No 28 and 30. A lot of teams have a legitimate shot at a medal this year in Japan.
February is a busy month on the ITTF Tour with events in Spain, Portugal, and Hungary as well as regional cups: Pan Am, Europ Top 16, Africa Top 16, and Asian Cup. There is lots of opportunity for ranking changes in March.
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The Petr Korbel blade will support Ilius B’s performance due to its moderate bounce. This blade will make drop shots easier with its low trajectory as well as providing high stability when blocking.
The combination with Innerforce Layer ALC.S, which has less bounce, would be also a good choice that brings out the rubber’s main performance qualities.
For players who value chops with wide range of spin
Innershield Layer ZLF is a blade for a chopper that requires less bounce and is recommended for the chopper who seeks a more defensive game.
The racket makes chops and pushes with a wide range of spin easier and will help you to play a safer game leading to your opponents to make more errors.
This is a combination with a 7-plywood blade with a relatively high reaction. The racket makes it possible to create shots with speed, such as punches that bounce deeper in the opponent’s court with less trajectory.
It is a recommendation for the players who aim to achieve a hybrid game of both attack and defense close to the table using various spins and changes of rhythm.
For all-round choppers that play at variable distances
Diode V is a blade for choppers and has high reaction properties. This is recommended for choppers that seek attacking play as well.
It is relatively easy to control the opponent’s ball at mid-distance, and it enables players to create heavy chops with a low trajectory when at a long distance away from the table. The racket performs well during various defensive techniques and during defensive play at a variable distance.
This is a combination with a 7-plywood blade with a relatively high reaction. The racket makes it possible to create shots with speed, such as punches that bounce deeper in the opponent’s court with less trajectory.
It is a recommendation for the players who aim to achieve a hybrid game of both attack and defense close to the table using various spins and changes of rhythm.
Dignics 05 will provide a better sense of holding the ball and adding power if combined with Harimoto Tomokazu Innerforce ALC and Innerforce Layer ALC. The combination will enhance the accuracy of topspin against backspin and counter topspin play close to the table.
Innerforce Layer ZLC
Dignics 05
Powerful play close to the table and from mid-distance
The combination of Innerforce Layer ZLC and Apolonia ZLC is recommended for the player who seeks powerful play close to the table or at a mid-distance. It enables the player to return the opponent’s service using the banana-flick before executing powerful topspin strokes. Both blades possess the sense of holding the ball and releasing the power in a balanced manner.
Lin Gaoyuan ALC
Dignics 05
High-level all-round play
This is a combination with a comparably soft and easy-to-handle blade using Arylate-Carbon, like Lin Gaoyuan ALC, Timo Boll ALC or Viscaria. The blend is suited to players who aspire to use aggressive all-round play from all parts of the playing area.
Hadraw VR
Dignics 05
Powerful play with a feeling of all-wood
Combing Hadraw VR with Dignics 05 realizes both powerful offensive play and rich rotation of the ball generated from all-wood feeling.
Cypress G-MAX
Dignics 05
Powerful play generated by Japanese penhold
Combined with Dignics 05 and Cypress G-MAX, generates more power, the blend is recommended for Japanese penhold players who seek powerful forehand topspin. Dignics 80 for more balance and Dignics 64 for more speed are also recommended.
Zhang Jike Super ZLC
Dignics 80
Play in higher level without weak point
Combing a rubber well-balanced between speed and rotation, Dignics 80, and Super ZL Carbon-equipped racket Zhang Jike Super ZLC guides your play to not only a powerful but also a stable higher level.
Mizutani Jun ZLC
Dignics 80
Smart play at variable distance
Jun Mizutani chooses the combination of Dignics 80 and the desirable bounce blade Mizutani Jun ZLC. As Dignics 80 has an excellent balance between speed and spin, you can easily decide whether to block or counter depending on the speed of the opponent’s ball. This is the combination enabling an offensive counter topspin away from the table, recommended for the player who plays smart at variable distance.
Timo Boll ZLF
Dignics 80
Stable and powerful counter topspin play
The combination of Dignics 80 and Timo Boll ZLF has both good bounce and control and offers reliability thanks to the holding the ball well. This is recommended for an aggressive well-balanced playing style focused on stability.
Timo Boll CAF
Dignics 80
Develop the power
A wide range of players can benefit from Dignics series although its main intended use is for players at intermediate to a high level. The rubber will widen your options by making a powerful stroke possible even though the player is not confident in his/her power play if the stroke movement is short and slow. We recommend the combination with easy-to-use blade Timo Boll CAF to develop your play.
Zhang Jike ZLC
Dignics 64
Develop the power
Play in higher level without weak point
Combing a rubber well-balanced between speed and rotation, Dignics 80, and Super ZL Carbon-equipped racket Zhang Jike Super ZLC guides your play to not only a powerful but also a stable higher level.
Innerforce Layer ALC
Dignics 64
All-round play in a wider area
The combination is recommended for blocking and counter topspin close to the table. The racket also offers a good experience of topspin against topspin play in the mid/mid-long distance. Innerforce Layer ALC.S which has less bounce is also recommended if you seek more stability.
SK7
Dignics 64
Stable topspin-against-topspin play
Dignics 64 which has good spin offers power and stability by combing with all-wood blade SK7 Classic.