As the Super Series road show moved to Paris from Denmark, Scott Evans took to the court early on qualification day in his bid to make the first round in his first ever visit to the Stade Pierre De Coubertain.

Evans got off to a slow start against a very tough opponent in Sweden’s Henri Hurskainen and trailed 7-2 minutes into the match. Slowly Evans began to come to grip with the apparently fast flying shuttles and closed the gap to 2 points at 14-12. Both players then exchanged salvoes and Evans was still well in the set at 16-14. Trailing 18-14 Evans questioned a line call which he felt clearly landed in but the umpire has a different opinion. The point lost as a result turned the tide of the game in the Swede’s favour and he closed out the set 21-14.

In the second set Evans was involved in everything that was good and both players played through extended rallies and had the crowd involved from the outset. The turning point in the set came at 17-15 when Evans was leading. The Swede handed the Irishman an easy smash but a wild strike saw Evens drop the shuttle out side the doubles tramline to hand Hurskainen a set lifeline. The Swede as if to play his ‘get out of jail free’ card pushed forward to close out the set and the match 21-18.

While defeat was a disappointment for Evans a clear return to form, and a will and drive to win, were always evident which was missing from his game in Denmark last week.

“I came to Paris very disappointed after my performance at the Denmark Open last week. I knew that no matter what that today I was going to fight and work my hardest and if I won I won and if I lost well I knew I went down fighting. Today I played better but it took me a while to get to grips with the speed of the shuttle. I gave it everything today and I felt good but it just was not my day” said Evans after his defeat.

By Mark Phelan (Live in Paris)  Photos badmintonphoto.com (Live)