Paul Drinkhall faces Germany’s Steffen Mengel for a place in the main draw of the WTT Contender Nova Gorica in Slovenia after victory over Matteo Mutti.

Drinkhall overcame his Italian opponent in four games, never trailing but having to save two game points in the fourth before prevailing 13-11.

He faces Mengel at 12.50pm today UK time on table 4 – watch on the WTT YouTube channel.

Victory would put Drinkhall into the last 32 alongside Liam Pitchford, who has already been drawn to face Wang Yang of Slovakia.

In the doubles, Sam Walker & Tom Jarvis went out to Polish pair Maciej Kubik & Samuel Kulczycki in three straight in the first qualifying round.

Results

Men’s Singles
Qualifying round 3
Drinkhall bt Matteo Mutti (ITA) 3-1 (11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 13-11)

Men’s Doubles
Qualifying round 1
Maciej Kubik & Samuel Kulczycki (POL) bt Sam Walker & Tom Jarvis 3-0 (11-9, 11-2, 11-8)