PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles veteran Lai Pei Jing hopes her partnership with Hoo Pang Ron will finally win her a first title in four years after they stormed into the French Open final yesterday.
The world No. 31 duo needed just 31 minutes to dispatch of China’s sixth-seeded Guo Xinwa-Chen Fanghui, winning 21-13, 21-9 at the Arena Grand Paris.
The victory marked a significant step forward following their semi-final appearance at the Denmark Open just last week.
“Everything is worth it now,” said the 34-year-old Pei Jing.
“We are trying incredibly hard to win more matches, not only for ourselves but also to secure additional sponsorships.
“We simply focused on our own game and finding our rhythm on court. Everything flowed smoothly from there.”
Pei Jing believes her combination with the 28-year-old Pang Ron could be the answer to her ‘’final jinx’’ since her last success in 2022 when she and Tan Kian Meng claimed the Korean Open title.
In just six months together, Pei Jing-Pang Ron have already finished as runners-up at the China Masters last month and reached the semi-finals of the Macau Open in June.
They now stand on the brink of their first title together as they face defending champions Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping of China in the final today.
The world No. 1 pair won 19-21, 21-17, 21-19 over fourth-seeded French pair, Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue.
A victory would make them the first Malaysian mixed doubles pair to be crowned champions at the Open in over two decades, following the triumph of Chan Chong Ming-Joanne Quay in 2000.
Pei Jing, a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, turned independent in 2021 alongside former partner Kian Meng.
Following Kian Meng’s retirement in 2025, she partnered briefly with Jimmy Wong. Despite reaching seven finals together, the pair never secured a title.
