Tang Jie-Ee Wei become more lethal after brief breakup

New Straits Times

6 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: The much publicised brief breakup between mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei seems to have made them more potent.
The reunited duo have come back, better and stronger. And Tang Jie-Ee Wei, for the first time, reached the Japan Open semi-finals yesterday.
The world No. 4 Malaysians showed they are on a different level by outclassing Japan's world No. 24 Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara 21-14, 21-12 in just 32 minutes.
National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky hailed their superb performance at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
"There was hesitation initially when Tang Jie-Ee Wei resumed their partnership, but today they were very positive," said Rexy.
"Tang Jie looked confident while Ee Wei was focused, especially on the front court which caused the Japanese player (Hobara) to lose confidence."
Tang Jie-Ee Wei will meet China's world No. 2 Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin in the last four. The Chinese duo stopped Malaysia's world No. 6 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai 21-13, 23-21 in 38 minutes in the quarter-finals.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei trail Zhen Bang-Ya Xin 2-1 in head-to-head meetings, but Rexy hopes to see the Malaysian pair continue their momentum tomorrow.
"I am hoping to see Tang Jie-Ee Wei keep up their momentum and continue playing positively against Zhen Bang-Ya Xin," added Rexy.
But it was another quarter-final heartache for Soon Huat-Shevon this year as the Malaysian duo have failed to get past this stage for the sixth time in nine World Tour events this year.
Soon Huat said that mistakes at the crucial stages cost them the match against Zhen Bang-Ya Xin.
"We made simple mistakes at the crucial stages and we didn't control our emotions after that," said a disappointed Soon Huat.
"We tried to create more attack but didn't quite manage to do it."
Soon Huat-Shevon will hope to end their quarter-final jinx at the China Open next week.