The 23-year-old Xu defeated former number one Ma at the Internationa Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Korean Open last month to knock his compatriot down to the number two spot ahead of the Championships, which are due to start in Paris on May 13. 

"Right now, I feel better," he said of regaining his position as the world's number one men's player.

"My state of mind is more relaxed.

"After we arrive in Austria, I have to adjust myself before going to Paris."

Elsewhere at the top of the rankings, Wang Hao retains his spot at number three, as Olympic gold medallist and reigning world champion Zhang Jike clings onto his number four spot despite a patchy run of recent form.

China's Ding Ning has retained her position as women's world number one in the ITTF Rankings

Europe's top-ranked player and one of just two European players in the top ten, Germany's Timo Boll, completes the top five in the world rankings.

The women's top five places remain unchanged with Chinese World Champion Ding Ning retaining top spot for the 19th consecutive month as one of four players from the dominant country in table tennis finding themselves in the top five once again.

Ding's compatriots, Liu Shiwen and Olympic champion Li Xiaoxia, stay in second and third spots respectively as Feng Tianwei of Singapore ranks in fourth.

Guo Yan, also of China, completes the top five women's players.

To view both the full men's and women's rankings, click here.

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