Xu won his first two games against Chinese Taipei's Wang Tai-Wei 11-8, 11-2 and all was well, but his opponent took the next two 11-9, 15-13 to force the match into a decider and threaten an almighty upset.

But normal service was resumed at the Among Rogo Stadium in Yogyakarta, as Xu won 11-3 and progressed to a later round-of-64 match against Kuwait's Al-Hasan Ibrahem, which he won far more comfortably 12-10, 11-5, 11-5.

Xu rounded off his night by reaching the final of the mixed doubles as he and Liu Shiwen, the top seeds, beat South Korea's Lee Sangsu and Jeon Jihee 4-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-6.

Their opponents will be compatriots and second seeds Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha.

Xu's team mate Fan Zhendong, the world number two, progressed more smoothly with an 11-1, 11-8. 11-8 win over Hong Kong's Li Hon Ming, followed by an 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 victory over North Korea's Ri Jong Sik.

Japan's teenage prodigy Tomokazu Harimoto also had a straightforward day, defeating Albalushi Salah of the United Arab Emirates 11-4. 11-1, 11-1, then Malaysia's Wong Ki Shen 12-10, 11-3, 11-8.

But the day did produce upsets, as Hong Kong's number seven seed Wong Chun Ting lost his second round match to North Korea’s 28th seed An Ji Song,11-5, 11-5, 4-11, 4-11, 12-10.

And India's Manav Vikash Thakkar, the number 31 seed, beat 12th-seeded Japanese Kazuhiro Yoshimura 10-12, 11-13, 16-14, 11-4, 11-9.

In the women's singles, there was just one upset as Chinese Taipei's Chen Szu-Yu, the number 15 seed, was beaten by India's Ayhika Mukherjee, the number 30 seed, 6-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9.

The other leading names enjoyed second round success, with China's Chen Meng, Ding Ning, Liu Shiwen and Wang Manyu all progressing.