Although this marks the highest global listing of the 23-year-old's (pictured above) career, the men's rankings – led by Zhang Jike, followed by Ma Long, Xu Xin and Wang Hao at number four – are dominated by China.

For China's Ma Lin, Mizutani's rise means a drop of one place to number six while Germany's Timo Boll falls to seventh best in the world.

Similarly in the women's world rankings, the top four spots are claimed by China, with Ding Ning (pictured below) rated as the world's best.

Compatriot Liu Shiwen ranks below her as world number two, pursued by Li Xiaoxia at number three and Guo Yan in fourth position.



Korea's Kim Kyungah, runner up in Kobe, moves into fifth spot previously occupied by Kasumi Ishikawa from Japan, now ranked as the world's sixth best.

The lateset men's and women's ranking lists are used to determine the seeding in the singles events at this summer's Olympic Games in London.

Zhang is the men's London 2012 singles top seed followed by Wang, Mizutani and Boll.

In the women's singles Olympic competition, Ding is top seed with Li next in line, followed by Kim and Ishikawa.

For the top 20 men's world rankings, click here. 

Click here for the women's top 20 rankings. 

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