Fan Zhendong of China hits a return during the men's singles final match against his compatriot Wang Chuqin (not in photograph) at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 28, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - Chinese paddler Fan Zhendong made a return to the men's singles top position in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings released on Tuesday.

With his title in last week's World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender Ljubljana, Fan overtook his compatriot Wang Chuqin to the number one position, while Wang, who had taken up the top spot for the first time in his career one week ago, slipped to second. Chinese veteran Ma Long sits third in the rankings.

ALSO READ: Table tennis: Wang Chuqin new men's world No. 1

China's Fan Zhendong (left) celebrates with his compatriot Wang Chuqin after their men's singles final match at 2023 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa, May 28, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The players ranked fourth to tenth are Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto, Brazilian ace Hugo Calderano, Lin Gaoyuan and Liang Jingkun of China, Jang Woo-jin of South Korea, Slovenia's Darko Jorgic and Swede Truls Moregard.

Chinese paddlers dominated the women's category, as Sun Yingsha, Chen Meng, Wang Yidi, Wang Manyu, Chen Xingtong and Qian Tianyi claimed the leading six positions.

READ MORE: Fan Zhendong, Sun Yingsha win singles titles at WTT Ljubljana

They were followed by Japanese duo Mima Ito and Hina Hayata, South Korean teenager Shin Yu-bin and German veteran Han Ying in the women's top 10.