World No. 94 upsets Zwiebler to reach last eight in Bangkok

Big scalp: Soong Joo Ven defeated world No. 17 Marc Zwiebler 22-20, 21-9 in the third round of the Thailand Open in Bangkok yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: Soong Joo Ven has ripped the form book to shreds by storming into the quarter-finals of the Thailand Open.

The world No. 94 scored a sensational 22-20, 21-9 third-round win over second seed Marc Zwiebler of Germany in Bangkok yesterday.

Joo Ven’s win over world No. 17 Zwiebler marked the first time he has beaten a player in the top 20.

But the 22-year-old, who faces either compatriot Liew Daren or Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu for a place in the semi-finals, believes it is too early to celebrate just yet.

“I never expected myself beating an experienced guy like Marc, but I played a really solid and consistent game today,” said Joo Ven.

“It also helped that everything didn’t go well for Marc ... I sensed my chances and I just went for it.

“I’m really pleased with this win because it’s definitely one of my best career upsets so far.

“But I still have a lot more work ahead of me. I’m fired up but I still need to do my best in order to progress further.”

It was the end of the road for national No. 2 Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin.

The world No. 39, competing in his first tournament since the Macau Open last November, lost 13-21, 18-21 to third seed B. Sai Praneeth of India.

The world No. 22 will meet Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcha­roen in the last eight.

In mixed doubles, fifth seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie survived an onslaught by Indonesia’s Irfan Fadhilah-Weni Anggraini before prevailing 21-11, 18-21, 21-14 in the second round.

The world No. 32 Malaysians will meet qualifiers Han Chengkai-Chen Lu of China in the quarter-finals.

“I didn’t play well at all, but Soon Huat was calm throughout and supported me well,” said Shevon.

“We were a bit rusty as this is our first tournament in over a month ... but we’re slowly getting our rhythm again.

“We’ve never seen the Chinese pair before, so we need to sit down later and study their game in order to prepare for our next match.”

In women’s singles, Ho Yen Mei was sent packing after losing 21-18, 12-21, 17-21 to homester Pornpa-wee Chochuwong.

In women’s doubles, both Lim Yin Loo-Yap Cheng Wen and Goh Yea Ching-Peck Yen Wei failed to make the quarter-finals.