China's Wang Chuqin reclaims number one on world table tennis ranking

Calderano, the world number three and reigning 2025 World Cup champion, was no match for Wang on Sunday night in Macau. Wang won all four sets with scores of 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 and 11-4, securing the title with dominance.

In the semifinals, Wang had defeated South Korea's Jang Woo-jin 4-0, while Calderano advanced by beating Anders Lind by the same score. The Macau final was expected to be close, but Wang's composure and great use of chances ensured a cruising victory.

Wang Chuqin is back to number one on world tennis table ranking. Photo by Instagram/@wtt

Over seven encounters, Wang has now won five against Calderano, losing only twice. Earlier this year, at the World Cup in Macau, Calderano beat Wang 4-3 in the semifinals and later claimed the championship. Wang avenged that defeat at the Doha World Championships in Qatar, defeating Calderano 4-1 to claim his first men's singles world championship.

"Personally, with the recent comments on the current state of the team, I wanted to give everything I had to win this match," he said, as quoted by the South China Morning Post. "To prove to everyone – to all of you – that the table tennis team is still a team."

The WTT Champions series is the table tennis equivalent of Masters tournaments in tennis, with prestige only behind the Grand Slams and Tour Finals. Macau hosted the fourth leg of this year's tournament, following Chongqing, Incheon and Yokohama. Two more stages are scheduled in Montpellier, France, in October and Frankfurt, Germany, in November.

Wang earned 1,000 ranking points after winning the title, placing him above compatriot Lin Shidong with 9,425 points to Lin's 9,375. Lin was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Anders Lind, dropping to second, while Calderano remained third.

Wang first became world number one in July 2023 after surpassing another Chinese player, Fan Zhendong. Lin reached the top ranking in February 2025 and held it until Wang won the WTT Champions. Despite previous rankings, Wang is considered stronger than Lin. The only reason he was at second is because Wang participates in fewer tournaments.

In women's singles, Sun Yingsha also reinforced China's dominance in Macau, defeating teammate Wang Manyu 4-3 in the final to defend her title.

Wang Chuqin, 25, stands 1.82 m tall and is left-handed, and is renowned for the strongest forehand in world table tennis. He is also the most followed male table tennis player in China, boasting nearly 10 million followers on Weibo.