Wang Manyu (Photo WTT)
After years of close calls and a legendary rivalry with Sun Yingsha, the time has finally arrived for Wang Manyu, who rises to World No.1 for the first time in her career.
Crowned World champion back in 2021, three times a winner of WTT Grand Smash events and the player who won it all at WTT Finals two years running, it seemed inevitable that one day we’d see Wang Manyu top the charts. It was a question of when, not if, it would happen.
Holding down the No.2 spot for the last 23 months, sometimes it’s that final step that’s the most difficult to take. For a large spell of that time, the margin to World No.1 looked unbridgeable, as Sun Yingsha continued to dominate at the highest level.
However, Sun hasn’t featured in international action since she won the United States Smash 2026 title in July, missing WTT Champions events in Yokohama and Macao, in addition to her absence at Europe Smash – Sweden. With points from those stops on last year’s calendar expiring, Sun’s once unassailable lead has diminished.
Leading the rankings since 18 July 2022, that 217-week run for Sun Yingsha was the second-longest streak for a Women’s Singles World No.1, with only Zhang Yining holding a superior record at 240 weeks.
A truly remarkable achievement, and one Sun will undoubtedly look back on for years to come. But a new chapter has been written, and it’s Wang Manyu’s name that headlines it.
With Sun Yingsha not in the playing field at Europe Smash – Sweden 2026, a glorious opportunity presented itself, and Wang Manyu capitalised. Swinging for the fences, Wang left Malmö as Women’s Singles champion, and now just 29 days later, she can finally call herself World No.1.
