Ratchanok Intanon officially sits on the top rung of the women's singles ladder after the latest ratings were announced by the Badminton World Federation on Thursday.
The 21-year-old Thai dethroned Carolina Marin from the top seed after winning three consecutive tournaments over the past three weeks, starting in India followed by Malaysia and Singapore.
She has 84,708 points in the latest rankings, 478 more than the Spaniard, according to the list the BWF posted on its website. Ratchanok notched up 25 wins and had only two losses this year.
The door for Ratchanok's jump to the top opened when Marin was eliminated at the Singapore Open on April 15. All the Thai player had to do was win the tournament in Singapore, and she did it with class.
She has collected US$364,680 in winnings, more than 12 million baht, since she turned pro in 2007.
Ratchanok has told the BWF that "to be number one in the world" was her long-held ambition. Kamala Tongkorn, who runs the Banthongyord Badminton School, was the most influential figure on her career, she says. Banthongyord is her home and training ground.
Ratchanok, better known as Nong May, hails from Yasothon is the first Thai badminton player to become No.1 in the world singles rankings.