Azriyn-Wee Kiong steal show from Sze Fei-Izzuddin at Japan Open
World No. 26 Azriyn-Wee Kiong pulled off a gritty comeback to upset France's 18th-ranked Christo and Toma Junior Popov 13-21, 21-17, 21-19 in 58 minutes at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
The win was a rare highlight in what has been a tough season for the Malaysian pair, who have only reached the second round in five of their 13 outings this year.
Their reward is a likely second-round clash against Denmark's world No. 4 pair Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in the Super 750 tournament.
Meanwhile, top seeds Sze Fei-Izzuddin, last year's champions and now flying the independent flag, cruised past Canada's Kevin Lee-Ty Alexander 21-13, 21-15 in just 23 minutes.
Since parting ways with the BA of Malaysia (BAM), the pair have bagged three more titles, reached the World Tour Finals final last December, and climbed to No. 1 in the world.
However, they've not added to their silverware since winning the India Open in January, and their top ranking is under threat from world No. 2 compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin will next face either Japan's Hiroki Midorikawa-Kyohei Yamashita or Taiwan's Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin in the second round.
In women's doubles, world No. 42 Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee put up a decent fight against Japan's world No. 6 Rin Iwanaga-Kei Nakanishi before falling 17-21, 21-8, 21-8.
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