PAUL DRINKHALL claims his recent run to the final of the Russian Open was the best performance of his table tennis career.

Drinkhall, who celebrated his first Commonwealth Games gold medal earlier this year when he claimed the mixed doubles title in Glasgow, made it all the way to the final of the Russian Open despite starting the tournament as the number 21 seed.

The 24-year-old, who hails from Loftus in Cleveland, claimed a string of notable scalps in Ekaterinburg, beating world number five Dimitrij Ovtcharov en route to the final.

He found Japan’s Koki Niwa, the fourth seed and world number 15, too strong in the final, going down to a 4-1 (12-14, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7) defeat, but was still delighted with his efforts over the course of the competition.

And while he became the first Briton to win a World Tour event for almost two decades when he won the Spanish Open in April, he feels his performances in Russia were even more impressive.

“It’s probably the tournament of my life and the best table tennis I’ve ever played,” said Drinkhall. “I won in Spain, but the results I’ve had here are much bigger and better than the Spanish results.

“I’m very happy with the way I’ve played, but slightly disappointed with the final. I’ve played him before and I’ve always had difficulty with his serves.

“I still felt I underperformed in the final compared to other rounds, but I think that’s down to his style. I found it difficult to get into the match, even though I was leading. But overall it was a great tournament and where I want to be with my game.”

As well as beating Ovtcharov in the semi-finals, Drinkhall also saw off sixth seed Eonrae Cho of South Korea in the last 16 and third seed Marcos Freitas, of Portugal, in the quarter-finals.

The North-Easterner’s success was achieved without any direct coaching input in Russia, but performance coach Alan Cooke has teamed up with Drinkhall and fellow Briton, Liam Pitchford, ahead of the Swedish Open, which starts tomorrow.

“Obviously it’s good to have a coach with you, but one thing I’m very strong at is getting myself in the right frame of mind to get the results for myself and England,” said Drinkhall. “I think I’ve handled it very well at this tournament and prepared properly for each game, and hopefully that can carry on in Sweden with Alan back.”

Drinkhall is now a virtual certainty to qualify for a place at next month’s World Tour Grand Finals in Bangkok.