Better odds: Leong Jun Hao holds the upper hand in head-to-head matches against Japan’s singles contenders.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia need to secure three victories over Japan in today’s Sudirman Cup Group C tie, and one could very well hinge on the men’s singles.
Both Malaysia and Japan have already confirmed their spots in the quarter-finals, having both defeated Australia and France in impressive fashion.
They are now eyeing to become group winners, which will give them an edge when the quarter-final draw takes place.
The men’s doubles and mixed doubles are strong contenders to contribute crucial points for Malaysia and the likely source for the third should come come through Leong Jun Hao, who is seen as the best bet, ahead of Justin Hoh.
Although Jun Hao has faced challenges with slow starts in his matches, he has a solid record against both Kodai Naraoka and Koki Watanabe.
National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen also expects Japan, currently led by Hitoshi Ohori, to field Naraoka based on his current form, along with two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the women’s singles.
“They have the ability to line up two world-class players. If they put in their strongest, it will be Naraoka and Yamaguchi. We will definitely need to bring our very best if we want to challenge them. But that’s our mission, to try to find a way to challenge,” said Jonassen.
Despite being ranked No. 26 in the world, Jun Hao has won three out of their four previous encounters against world No. 8 Naraoka.
Jun Hao’s recent win was a remarkable upset over Naraoka in the quarter-finals of the Kumamoto Masters in November.
Jun Hao also boasts a strong 4-1 record against Watanabe (16). Their most recent clash occurred last November, when Jun Hao triumphed in the second round of the Kumamoto Masters.
Armed with a psychological edge and a solid track record, Jun Hao could prove to be a trump card if selected.
However, Jonassen believes the key for Malaysia to defeat Japan lies in executing the right strategy and fully utilising the players’ strengths.
“Overall, it’s been very positive. Four players (including women’s single Goh Jin Wei and K. Letshanaa) have been on court, four wins, and against four different levels of opponents. We’ve adapted well and stuck to the plan, so I’m quite pleased.
“Of course, there are always details to address after each match to ensure we progress to the next level. We need to play with the right strategy, maintain discipline, and know when to adjust our tactics. It requires variety, but we must play to our strengths.”
