PETALING JAYA: Going for a counter-attacking strategy paid off for Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi against Indonesia’s Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana in the men’s doubles quarter-finals of the Swiss Open.
The independent pair and world No. 8 changed their game plan after losing the first game 16-21 and it worked well in the end as they won the next two games 21-12, 21-19 to book their spot in the last four in Basel on Friday.
It was the Malaysian pair’s first victory over world No. 15 Shohibul-Bagas after two defeats in the All-England last week and last year’s edition in Birmingham.
“It was a really tough match for Yew Sin-Ee Yi,” said independent coach Rosman Razak.
“In the first game, they tried to compete with the Indonesian pair at the front court but came out second best.
“So, we decided to be a bit more defensive and take the opportunities to counter-attack in the second and third games. It worked.”
The hard-fought victory sealed Yew Sin-Ee Yi’s first semi-final berth this year after they had finished in the last eight twice in the Malaysian and Indian Opens in January.
The duo will take on India’s world No. 6 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty next for a place in the final.
Meanwhile, there was also joy for mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, who beat Thailand’s Supak Jomkoh-Supissara Paewsampran 21-18, 21-18 to reach the semi-finals.
Independent pair and world No. 11 Soon Huat-Shevon had finished runners-up last year and will face Holland’s world No. 12 Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek for a spot in a second consecutive final.
It will also be a maiden semi-final appearance for the Malaysians this year.
Tabeling-Piek had dashed the hopes of national pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei after narrowly edging the latter 21-19, 19-21, 21-19.
World No. 28 Tang Jie-Ee Wei, who were only paired together last November, were bitterly disappointed after coming so close to causing an upset.
“We are both very sad after the loss,” said a dejected Ee Wei.
“When our opponents were leading, we never gave up and kept chasing them.
“We really gave everything but they have more experience than us. We will learn from this defeat and come back stronger.”
