Liam Pitchford won his qualifying group to join Sam Walker in the main draw at WTT Feeder Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal.

Pitchford, who has fallen down the world rankings to No 236 as he comes back from major hip surgery, defeated USA’s unranked Seth Pech with ease in his first group match.

He fell behind to Switzerland’s Mauro Scharrer (WR 482) in the second, but came back to win in four, saving a game point on his way to taking the third 12-10.

His final group match was against Portugal’s Antoine Doyen (WR 371) and it was another win in four, this time losing the third game.

Meanwhile, Walker (WR 117) has been drawn against Gustavo Gomez (WR 126) of Chile in the round of 32.

Tia Yu (WR 411) is aiming to join Tin-Tin Ho in the main draw of the Women’s Singles, and she won her first match in three against Silvia Coll (WR 399) of Spain.

However, she was defeated in four games – all 11-9 – by the top-ranked player in qualifying Zuzanna Wielgos (WR 154) of Poland and must await the outcome of Wielgos’ match against Coll to decide the group outcome.

Ho will play a qualifier in the round of 32.

In the doubles, Ho & Yu won their first match in three games against Beatriz Pinto & Patricia Santos of the host nation and will next play Lee Haelin & Kim Gyurin of South Korea for a place in the main draw.

Pitchford & Walker got through in four against Stepan Brhel & Jiri Martinko of Czechia and will face Israel’s Michael Tauber & Eitay Shushan for a place in the main draw.

In the Mixed Doubles, Walker & Ho are seeded into the main draw and will face a pair from qualifying.

Results

Men’s Singles
Qualifying group 6
Liam Pitchford bt Seth Pech (USA) 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-6)
Pitchford bt Mauro Scharrer (SUI) 3-1 (8-11, 11-2, 12-10, 11-9)
Pitchford bt Antoine Doyen (POR) 3-1 (11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5)

Women’s Singles
Qualifying group 1
Tianer Yu bt Silvia Coll (ESP) 3-0 (11-4, 11-9, 11-6)
Zuzanna Wielgos (POL) bt Yu 3-1 (11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9)

Men’s Doubles
Qualifying round 1
Liam Pitchford & Sam Walker bt Stepan Brhel & Jiri Martinko (CZE) 3-1 (6-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5)

Women’s Doubles
Qualifying round 1
Tin-Tin Ho & Tianer Yu bt Beatriz Pinto & Patricia Santos (POR) 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-2)