PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei will need to stay alert against Taiwan’s Ye Hong-wei-Nicole Chan, who could pose a serious threat to their French Open title hopes this week.
The Taiwanese duo had the upper hand in their last encounter, beating the Malaysians in the second round of the Singapore Open in May. It was an upset, considering Tang Jie-Ee Wei had won their previous two meetings.
To avoid another slip-up, Tang Jie-Ee Wei will have to sharpen their game, especially after an unconvincing start in the opening round at the Glaz Arena in Cesson-Sevigne on Wednesday.
The fourth seeds came from a game down to overcome another Taiwanese pair, Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang, 16-21, 21-16, 21-12, to book their place in the second round.
“I think our rhythm was a bit slow, and the opponents had more chances to counter-attack. We probably lacked patience in the first game,” said Tang Jie in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Before heading to Europe, their coach Nova Widianto had set a target for the duo to win at least one of the three tournaments on their European tour.
They nearly delivered at the Denmark Open last week but fell in the semi-finals to world No. 1 combo Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin.
Meanwhile, husband-and-wife duo Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie were pushed to the limit by Indonesia’s Amri Syahnawi-Nita Marwan before prevailing 15-21, 21-17, 21-17 in the first round of the French Open. They will take on Scotland’s Alexander Dunn-Julie Macpherson next.
Also advancing to the second round were men’s doubles pair Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King, who defeated France’s Eloi Adam-Leo Rossi 21-19, 21-17.
Arif-Roy King are likely to face either one of the Chinese pairs, Xie Haonan-Zeng Weihan or Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang, in the next round.
Women’s doubles duo Carmen Ting-Ong Xing Yee squandered a golden opportunity to reach the second round after going down 21-16, 14-21, 17-21 to France’s Margot Lambert and Camille Pognante.
Meanwhile, eighth seeds Li Yijing-Luo Xumin of China advanced without lifting a racquet after another Malaysian pair, Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing, withdrew from their opening match.
