Paul Drinkhall went out at the first hurdle at the North American Open, knocked out by China’s Zhou Kai in Markham, Canada.

It was four straight but relatively close as Drinkhall, who was seeded 12th, went out 11-7, 12-10, 11-9, 11-8 in the round of 64.

Zhou is ranked just outside the world’s top 500, but went on to defeat world No 113 Xu Yingbin, also of China, in the next round. A number of lower-ranked Chinese are at the event, with Zhou’s next opponent Xue Fei (WR 135).

Drinkhall was England’s only representative at the event. Scotland’s Gavin Rumgay went out in the last 64 to fifth seed Darko Jorgic of Slovenia, losing 4-0 (11-3, 11-1, 11-8, 11-4). Charlotte Carey of Wales was beaten in the first round of the women’s singles, 4-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6) by Daria Trigolos of Belarus.