Wee Kiong-Azriyn out to halt English pair's streak at French Open

Professionals Tan Wee Kiong (back) and Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Seasoned doubles pair Tan Wee Kiong and Nur Azriyn Ayub will be out to avoid becoming the third Malaysian casualty at the hands of England’s Ben Lane-Sean Vendy when they begin their French Open campaign on Wednesday (Oct 22)

For two consecutive weeks, Lane-Vendy have proven to be a thorn in the side of Malaysian pairs.

It began at the Arctic Open, where they stunned Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in the final to capture the title.

Just a few days later at the Denmark Open, the English duo ousted Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in the first round.

Wee Kiong, however, has not faced the English pair in quite some time. The last meeting was at the 2021 Thailand Open, when he was still partnered with Goh V Shem.

The first round clash at the Glaz Arena in Cesson-Sevigne will therefore mark a new test for the Wee Kiong-Azriyn partnership against Lane and Vendy.

Wee Kiong-Nur Azriyn, currently ranked world No. 24, will head into the French Open brimming with confidence after an impressive showing in Odense last week.

The pair pulled off a major upset at the Denmark Open when they stunned world No. 1 and reigning world champions Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae in the second round, becoming only the fifth pair to beat the formidable Koreans this year.

Wee Kiong and Azriyn then put up a strong fight against world No. 4 Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang in the quarter-finals before going down 19-21, 18-21.

"We are happy to achieve something special but actually still not enough, so we hope can achieve more in the next tournaments.

"We never think about that we are the only pair left in this tournament (Denmark Open), but it is a good feeling," said Wee Kiong.

Besides Wee Kiong-Nur Azriyn, Malaysia will also be banking on five other men’s doubles pairs at the French Open.

Aaron-Wooi Yik will take on Indonesia’s Leo Rolly-Bagas Maulana, while Sze Fei-Izzuddin face Denmark Open champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi of Japan.

Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun will meet South Korea’s Kang Min-hyuk-Ki Dong-ju in their opening match.

Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi are set to play India’s Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy-Sai Pratheek, While Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King will go up against French pair Eloi Adam-Leo Rossi.

 

DENMARK OPEN

FINAL RESULTS

Men's singles: Jonatan Christie (Ina) bt Shi Yuqi (Chn) 13-21, 21-15, 21-15.

Men's doubles: Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi (Jpn) bt Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri (Ina) 21-18, 15-21, 21-19.

Women's singles: An Se-young (Kor) bt Wang Zhiyi (Chn) 21-5, 24-22.

Women's doubles: Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee (Kor) bt Kim Hye-jong-Kong Hee-yong (Kor) 15-21, 21-14, 21-15.

Mixed doubles: Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping (Chn) bt Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin (Chn) 21-13, 21-9.