Persolja beat Slovakia’s Thomas Keinath 11-8, 3-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9 to top qualification Group 7 by virtue of a superior game difference.

Following victory over Hungary’s Gergely Sabjan yesterday, Zibrat sealed his place in the last-64 by overcoming Italy’s Alessandro Baciocchi 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-9 in Group 14.

Awaiting Persolja in the next round is South Korea’s Saehyuk Joo, while England’s Samuel Walker provides Zibrat’s opposition.

Compatriot Mitja Horvat missed out on qualification, however, as Belgium’s Martin Allegro defeated Denmark’s Claus Nielsen 16-14, 9-11, 2-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2 to finish first in Group 25.

Darko Jorgic and Bojan Tokic, also of Slovenia, went straight through to the main draw and will face Hungary's Krisztian Nagy and Puerto Rico's Brian Afanador respectively.

In the women’s draw, home favourite Ivana Zera missed out on the chance to qualify after suffering a 4-11, 5-11, 7-11, 12-10, 7-11 defeat at the hands of Japan’s Yuko Kato in Group 14.

Kato topped the standings with three wins from four matches, followed by Chinese Taipei’s Chia-Hsuan Lin who guaranteed her progression with an 11-5, 11-2, 11-3, 11-4 win over San Marino’s Letizia Giardi.

The main draws in the men’s and women’s singles are due to begin tomorrow.