by Ian Marshall, Editor

Otherwise amongst the leading names there is no change.

China’s Liu Shiwen remains at no.5 followed by compatriot Wang Manyu; next in line is Japan’s Mima Ito pursued by Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching. Also from Japan, Miu Hirano reserves the no.9 spot, she  continues ahead of Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, Korea Republic’s Suh Hyowon and a further Japanese player in the guise of Hitomi Sato.

Very much the status quo but amongst the top 100 names there are notable changes; aspiring Chinese names very much in evidence.

Zhang Rui moves from no.70 to no.58; Liu Gaoyang climbs from no.103 to no.85, Chen Ke from no.106 to no.93. Notably all competed in Hungary, pick of the bunch being Liu Gaoyang; after safely negotiating the qualification tournament, she caused a major first round upset by beating Feng Tianwei, prior to further progress being halted by colleague, Sun Yingsha.

Likewise there is progress for Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Hsien-Tu, she climbs from no.61 to no.50; in a similar manner, Germany’s Kristin Lang advances. Formerly at no.109, she now appears at no.97.

Progress, notably in the opposite direction, Monaco’s Yang Xiaoxin falls from no.62 to no.72, Japan’s Yui Hamamoto from no.79 to no.90, Viktoria Pavlovich of Belarus from no.86 to no.100. Also, it is down the order for Colombia’s Paula Medina; formerly listed at no.98, she now appears in the no.110 position.

World Rankings: Complete lists for February 2019