Zibrat came from behind against Sabjan to record a 12-14, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 victory in the first of his two Group 14 encounters.

Next up for the Slovenian is a meeting tomorrow with Italy’s Alessandro Baciocchi - who also overturned a deficit to beat Sabjan 7-11, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-4, 11-6 - to determine the group winner.

The only other win for the home nation in the men’s draw came in Group 25 as Mitja Horvat overcame Denmark’s Claus Nielsen 5-11, 11-1, 9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-6.

That was followed, however, by a 9-11, 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 3-11 defeat against Belgium’s Martin Allegro, who will top the group with a win against Nielsen tomorrow.

In the women’s draw, the hosts’ success was limited to Ivana Zera’s triumph in her second Group 14 encounter against San Marino’s Letizia Giardi.

Despite losing 3-11, 2-11, 5-11, 1-11 against Chinese Taipei’s Chia-Hsuan Lin in her opener, Zera recovered to beat Giardi 11-4, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9.

She is due to play her third and final group game tomorrow against Japan’s Yuko Kato, who overcame Giardi 11-5, 11-5, 11-9, 11-4 and Lin 11-7, 12-10, 11-8, 6-11, 11-3 today.