PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttler Clarissa San will head into the biggest tournament of her career with one simple piece of advice ringing in her ears - to stay calm and enjoy the occasion.
The 20-year-old will make her Japan Open debut next week after being paired with Chen Tang Jie following Toh Ee Wei's anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Ee Wei is currently undergoing rehabilitation in Melbourne.
Clarissa admitted she was thrilled to be given the opportunity to compete alongside Tang Jie at one of the BWF World Tour's premier events and is determined to make the most of it.
She said Tang Jie and mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto have constantly reminded her not to let her nerves get the better of her.
"Every day, coach Nova and Tang Jie remind me not to be afraid. They tell me to stay calm and enjoy every match at the Japan Open.
"Of course, we'll also be playing another three or four tournaments together after this, so I just want to learn as much as possible and, if we can, win matches," said Clarissa.
Tang Jie-Clarissa will take on Taiwan's Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang in the opening round.
The Selangor-born Clarissa is keeping her expectations in check, saying her main goal is to reproduce what she has been working on in training over the past few weeks.
"First of all, I don't have any high expectations because this is my first time playing in a tournament as big as the Japan Open. I just want to bring what I've been doing in training onto the court.
"Honestly, I still have a lot to improve on, but Tang Jie has been like a mentor and an older brother to me. Whenever I make mistakes, he'll guide me, so there are no issues," she added.
Also in action at the Japan Open will be Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin, who will face Japan's Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara in the opening round.
Independent pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie will take on Americans Chen Zhi Yi-Francesca Corbett, while Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien face a tough opening test against China's fifth seeds Guo Xinwa-Chen Fanghui.
