Defending champion Zhang Jike cruised into the last 16 at the World Championships after beating fellow Chinese Fan Zhendong here on Friday.

Zhang, also the reigning Olympic champion, won in straight sets over the world No. 8 11-9, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5.

The 4th-ranked Zhang will next play Austria's Robert Gardos, who labored to beat Egypt's Omar Assar after the two sides played a full seven sets.

Third seed Wang Hao set up a showdown in the last 16 against Chinese teammate Gao Ning as he conceded a set in his defeat of Iran's Noshad Alamiyan 11-7, 11-5, 11-2, 10-12, 11-3.

Gao, ranked 16th in the world, eliminated Chen Chien-An of Chinese Taipei.

Another Chinese Yan An also advanced with a win over Greek Kalinikos Kreanga.

Second seed Ma Long, China's World Cup winner, will play Slovenia's Bojan Tokic later.

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