PETALING JAYA: Former world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik stormed into the Denmark Open final yesterday with a commanding straight-games win over world No. 1 South Koreans Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae.
The world No. 4 Malaysians needed just 38 minutes to seal a 21-14, 21-18 victory at the Jyske Bank Arena in Odense, underlining their chemistry in their first tournament since reuniting after a brief spell with different partners.
“It’s our first tournament back together, so I think it’s a good start,” said Wooi Yik.
The 28-year-old credited his decade-long partnership with Aaron, 29, for their understanding on court but admitted there was still room for improvement.
“Previously, we missed some crucial points and lost because of a lack of control and movement.
“I think we have improved, and our partnership has been going strong for 10 years. But we can still work on some details and try different things.”
Aaron, meanwhile, said he was enjoying his time on court and felt there was less pressure since the pair reunited.
The victory puts Aaron-Wooi Yik in their second consecutive final after finishing runners-up at the World Championships in India last month, where they also beat the Korean top seeds in the semi-finals.
The fourth seeds will now bid to lift their first World Tour title since 2023 when they face third-seeded Indonesians Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri in today’s final.
Meanwhile, professional mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing saw their run end in the semi-finals, losing to top seeds Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping of China.
Despite the defeat, Pang Ron-Pei Jing can take heart from reaching their second semi-final of the year, following their breakthrough at the China Masters last month.
Yanzhe-Dongping will now chase their fourth consecutive Open title in a repeat of last year’s final against compatriots Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin.
The second-seeded Zhenbang-Yaxin advanced after beating eighth seeds Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi, also of China, 17-21, 21-12, 21-13 in 55 minutes.
