Setback to Sze Fei-Izzuddin's bid for top 4 seeding at World Championships
The Malaysians slipped two rungs to world No. 3 in men's doubles, with South Korea's Kim Won Ho–Seo Seung Jae taking over the top spot after denying them a successful title defence at the Japan Open last week.
Compatriots Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik remained unmoved at No. 2 despite also falling early in Tokyo.
The pressure is now squarely on Sze Fei–Izzuddin to bounce back at this week's China Open in Changzhou — their final tournament before the seedings are finalised for the World Championships, based on the Aug 8 ranking.
Anything short of a deep run could see them tumbling out of the top four, a scenario that would severely compromise their title aspirations in Paris.
A seeding outside the top four could pit them against the tournament favourites as early as the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, other Malaysian men's doubles pairs also saw positive movements.
Ong Yew Sin–Teo Ee Yi, last week's surprise semi-finalists in Tokyo, climbed two spots to No. 28, while quarter-finalists Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub–Tan Wee Kiong inched up one place to No. 25.
Man Wei Chong–Tee Kai Wun continue to be Malaysia's third-highest ranked pair at No. 7, followed by Wan Arif Junaidi–Yap Roy King at No. 24.
In women's doubles, world No. 3 Pearly Tan–M. Thinaah maintained their position despite finishing runners-up in Tokyo.
The in-form duo are now within striking distance of soon-to-part ways No. 2 Chiharu Shida–Nami Matsuyama of Japan, and will have another opportunity to push higher at the China Open.
Go Pei Kee–Teoh Mei Xing are the next best ranked Malaysians at No. 22.
In the men's singles, Leong Jun Hao dropped two more rungs to No. 26 after a first-round exit in Tokyo, while Lee Zii Jia continued his downward slide due to inactivity, falling from No. 27 to No. 33 in the real-time rankings.
Zii Jia, however, holds a protected ranking of No. 9 — activated in late March — which allows him entry into World Tour events during his comeback period.
There were no changes in the mixed doubles standings for Malaysia.
Chen Tang Jie–Toh Ee Wei continue to lead the charge at No. 4, followed by Goh Soon Huat–Shevon Lai Jemie (No. 6) and Hoo Pang Ron–Cheng Su Yin (No. 13), keeping Malaysia well-represented with three pairs inside the world's top 15.
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