Liam Pitchford & Anna Hursey were edged out of the Mixed Doubles at the WTT Star Contender Doha by Chinese pair Huang Youzheng & Shi Xunyao in the qualifying round – but then received a ‘lucky loser’ place in the last 16.

The British duo were never ahead in losing the first game 11-5, but blitzed through the second with eight successive points from 3-2 to level the match.

The pattern of one pair making most of the running continued as Huang & Shi took the third 11-6, but again the Brits hit back as they led throughout the fourth, which they won by the same scoreline.

Pitchford & Hursey took three of the first four points in the decider, but their opponents then won five on the spin and although the Brits twice closed to within a point, they lost out 11-7 as Huang & Shi went through to the main draw.

However, Pitchford & Hursey were then sent through anyway as ‘lucky losers’ and will face second seeds Alvaro Robles & Mario Xiao of Spain tomorrow. The match is on Table 2 at 8am UK time.

In the Men’s Singles, the draw for the last 64 paired Pitchford (WR 57) with Kirill Gerassimenko of Kazakhstan (WR 39) on Table 1 at 3.10pm UK time tomorrow, with the winner to face fifth seed Quadri Aruna of Nigeria (WR 19).

Meanwhile, Hursey (WR 158) qualified for the main draw of the Women’s Singles with two impressive victories over higher-ranked opponents.

She first defeated the third-ranked player in qualifying and world No 73, Li Yu-Jhun of Chinese Taipei, 3-2 (11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 6-11, 11-5) and then, in the third and final qualifying round, beat Tatiana Kukulkova of Slovakia (WR 135) 3-1 (10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7).

She will play Orawan Paranang (WR 47) of Thailand at 3.45pm UK time, on Table 2.

Follow the matches on the WTT YouTube channel.

Result

Mixed Doubles
Qualifying round
Huang Youzheng & Shi Xunyao (CHN) bt Liam Pitchford & Anna Hursey (WAL) 3-2 (11-5, 2-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7)