Dublin’s Scott Evans has won his first match in Group K of the men's badminton singles, coming from a set down to defeat Germany's Marc Zwiebler in Rio today.
Despite falling to a heavy loss in the first set, Evans came back strongly in the next two for a very encouraging 9-12, 21-17, 21-7 victory - Ireland's first ever in the Olympic men's event.
Ireland's No 1, Evans attempted to take control of the net from the start in set one, moving forward at every opportunity, but too many unforced errors saw the German race into a 14-2 lead.
Two rare errors from Zwiebler saw Evans reduce the gap to 14-4, and while the Dundrum man’s play improved to reduce the gap to 19-9 at one stage, Zwiebler reasserted his authority to claim the first set 21-9.
Evans began the second set in determined fashion and took the first point with a fist pump to celebrate and then won a battle at the net to make it 2-0, but Zwiebler re-focused and was soon 3-2 up.
Evans hit back once more and made it 5-3 with a great smash. Zwiebler, who won gold at the 2012 European Championships, wasn’t letting up though and took the next five points for a 8-5 lead.
That lead was soon 11-7 as the players traded points in an increasingly competitive set, but Evans wasn’t to be deterred and levelled the set at 12-12.
Evans then went 14-12 ahead following two rare unforced errors from Zwiebler before taking control and winning it 21-17.
The third and decisive set began with some brilliant rallies as the players continued to move each other around the court, but Zwiebler shaded the opening exchanges and moved into a 5-1 lead.
Evans fought back brilliantly though, taking 12 of the next 13 points for a 13-6 lead as the pressure began to show on the German.
Uncharacteristic errors by Zwiebler mixed with some impressive, aggressive play by Evans saw the Irishman move to 16-6 up before Zwiebler hit a long-overdue reply for 16-7.
But Evans wasn’t to be denied and took the set 21-7 for victory and a very encouraging start against an opponent he hadn’t beaten before today.
Evans now faces Brazil's Ygor Coelho de Oliveira tomorrow knowing that a win will see him into the last 16
