PETALING JAYA: Scratch pair Hoon Thien How-Tan Boon Heong’s impressive run at the Australian Open came to an end after succumbing to in-form South Korea’s Lee Yong-dae-Yoo Yeon-seong in the men’s doubles semi-finals.
In Sydney on Saturday, Thien How-Boon Heong, the only Malaysian representatives in the last four of the US$750,000 (RM2.4mil) tournament, found the world No. 2 too hot to handle. They went down 21-14, 21-16 in 47 minutes to the winners of the back-to-back Japan and Indonesian Opens.
It was Thien How-Boon Heong’s second successive defeat to the Koreans. In the Thomas Cup group stage last month, they lost 21-19, 21-19.
“Our opponents played extremely well today. We did all we could but still ended up as losers. We found it difficult to win the points,” said Boon Heong.
“Although this is only our second tournament as a pair, I can’t say we are happy by reaching the last four. It’s rather disappointing to go out at this stage. We were just a step from reaching the final and giving ourselves a shot at the title,” added Boon Heong.
Yong-dae-Yeon-seong will go for their third straight Superseries crown against Taiwan’s Lee Sheng-mu-Tsai Chia-hsin today. Third seeds Sheng-mu-Chia-hsin prevented an all-Korean affair by ousting Kim Ki-jung-Kim Sa-rang 21-18, 21-17 in the other semi-final.
Former world No. 1 Lin Dan of China booked a berth in the men’s singles final by beating compatriot Tian Houwei 21-19, 23-21. He will take on Singapore Open champion Simon Santoso of Indonesia in the final.
For the first time this season, there will be no Chinese player contesting for the women’s singles title.
India’s Saina Nehwal stunned China’s Wang Shixian 21-19, 16-21, 21-15 and will meet Spaniard Carolina Marin, who outclassed Japanese Yui Hashimoto 21-17, 21-16, in the final.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
