Sam Walker saved five match points on his way to victory in his first match at the German Open.

Walker was up against world No 193 Daniel Kosiba of Hungary in the qualifying stage and found himself 3-1 down. He won the fifth and saved one match point at 10-9 down in the sixth, which he then took 12-10.

The seventh saw the players trade points up to 8-8 but Walker then found himself 10-8 down. He saved those two match points, and others at 10-11 and 11-12, before notching his own first match point at 13-12. That chance went begging but his second chance did not as the Worksop man clinched it 15-13.

Walker’s second group match is tomorrow against world No 30 Bastian Steger of Germany.

Paul Drinkhall and Liam Pitchford both enter the fray tomorrow as well – Drinkhall is up against Brian Afanador or Puetro Rico, ranked No 242, and France’s Benjamin Brossier (No 136), while Pitchford is drawn against Tobia Hippler (Germany, 342) and Lam Siu Hang (Hong Kong, 104).

Result

Men’s Singles
Qualifying Group 8
Sam Walker bt Daniel Kosiba (HUN) 4-3 (11-13, 8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 15-13)