Liam Pitchford and Tom Jarvis were live in the men’s doubles on table 1. It was an exciting match-up, as they faced Zhendong Fan and Xin Xu of China, the world number one and two respectively. Unfortunately, the pairing could not make it past the pair who won 3-0 (11-2, 13-11, 11-9).
Pitchford was live on table 1 again in the men’s singles round of 32. He faced another Chinese opponent in Qihao Zhou, number 72 in the world. It was another upset for Pitchford who bowed out of the competition, losing 4-1 (5-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10, 12-10).
Drinkhall will also compete in the round of 32. An incredible comeback in the preliminary round 3 against Drako Jorgic of Slovenia, which led to the Englishman being 3-1 down going into game five. It was a stunning three-game winning streak which resulted in Drinkhall claiming victory over his opponent taking the match 4-3 (11-7, 5-11,6-11 8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-5).
Drinkhall then went on to face Paraguayan, Marcelo Aguirre. Drinkhall looked comfortable throughout the match, with only a slight scare in game five which he lost 12-10. However, keeping his cool, he cruised to victory in the sixth game, winning 11-2 and taking the match 4-2 (11-5, 14-12, 6-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-2).
Drinkhall will faced a tough challenge in the round of 32. Japanese star, Tomokazu Harimoto ranked number 5 in the world. Although Drinkhall put in a fight to try and bring it back in the fifth game, however, a win was not meant to be as he bowed out to the teenager 4-2 (11-8, 12-10, 7-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-4)
Jarvis teamed up with Welsh athlete Charlotte Carey in the mixed doubles. However, they were eliminated in preliminary round 1, losing to Russians Alexander Shibaev and Polina Mikhailova 3-0 (11-4, 11-9, 13-11).
Results
Men’s Singles
Preliminary round 2
Stephane Ouaiche (FRA) bt Samuel Walker 4-3 (15-13, 4-11, 11-5, 9-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-7)
Paul Drinkhall bt Yew En Koen Pang (SGP) 4-1 (11-3, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8, 11-2)
Kirill Skachkov (RUS) bt Tom Jarvis 4-1 (11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8)
Preliminary round 3
Drinkhall bt Darko Jorgic (SLO) 4-3 (11-7, 5-11,6-11 8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-5)
Preliminary round 4
Drinkhall bt Marcelo Aguirre (PAR) 4-2 (11-7, 5-11, 6-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-5)
Round of 32
Qihao Zhou (CHN) bt Pitchford 4-1 (5-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10, 12-10)
Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN) bt Drinkhall 4-2 (11-8, 12-10, 7-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-4)
Men’s Doubles
Preliminary round 1
Par Gerell (SWE) & Jens Lundqvist bt Drinkhall & Walker 3-2 (11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-13, 12-10)
Jarvis & Pitchford bt Jesus Cantero (ESP) & Carlos Machado 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-8)
Preliminary round 2
Jarvis & Pitchford bt Tamas Lakatos (HUN) & Leonardo Mutti (ITA) 3-1 (7-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9)
Round of 16
Zhendong Fan (CHN) & Xin Xu (CHN) bt Jarvis & Pitchford 3-0 (11-2, 13-11, 11-9)
Mixed Doubles
Preliminary round 1
Alexander Shibaev (RUS) & Polina Mikhailova (RUS) bt Jarvis & Charlotte Carey 3-0 (11-4, 11-9, 13-11)