Latest news with #GermanOpen
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Veterans still on fire
Rough patch: Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Azriyn Ayub suffered seven consecutive first-round exits since the German Open in February. PETALING JAYA: Even before today's second-round matches get under way, Malaysia are already assured of having at least two men's doubles pairs in the quarter-finals of the Indonesian Open. World No. 1 duo Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani will face veterans Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Azriyn Ayub, while Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun are set to take on Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi in another all-Malaysian clash. For Wee Kiong-Azriyn, there was a sense of relief after they finally cleared the opening round on Tuesday, defeating China's Xie Haonan-Zeng Weihan 21-17, 21-12. The pair had suffered seven consecutive first-round exits since the German Open in February. Ironically, the last time they progressed beyond the first round was also in Jakarta, at the Indonesia Masters on January where they were stopped by the same Chinese pair. 'Our last meeting with Haonan-Weihan was here in Indonesia, so we didn't have much confidence at the start. But after a few rallies, Azriyn found his rhythm. He led the way today (Tuesday) and we got back on track,' said Wee Kiong in an interview with BWF. 'For me, it's about using my experience to guide us. I let Azriyn do most of the court coverage as we try to close the gap with the top pairs. Hopefully, we can keep up this momentum.' Wee Kiong, 36, and Azriyn, 31, know they are no longer in their prime, but beyond chasing victories, they are also looking to enjoy the matches they play. In their past three meetings, Wee Kiong-Azriyn have only beaten Sze Fei-Izzuddin once, during the second round of the Kumamoto Masters last year. However, in their most recent clash at the Indian Open in March, they fell to the younger pair. 'At our age, we're still trying to achieve something. Of course, we want to enjoy the game and create something special in our careers. 'We've managed to clear the first hurdle, but we have to stay focused,' he added. It was a similar story in the men's doubles, as Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi and Choong Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri both crashed out in the first round. Ee Yi-Yew Sin continued to struggle with their early-round woes after going down to China's Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang. The Malaysian pair put up a strong resistance, but it wasn't enough to prevent the fourth seeds from claiming a 21-23, 20-22 win. Hon Jian-Haikal, meanwhile, found the going tough against former world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi, losing tamely 13-21, 9-21.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Good news as two men's doubles pairs assured of q-finals spots
Malaysia's Goh Sze Fei - Nur Izzuddin in action for mens double match during the Malaysia Open 2025 at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star PETALING JAYA: Even before the second-round matches get underway tomorrow (June 5), Malaysia are already assured of having at least two men's doubles pairs in the quarter-finals of the Indonesian Open. World No. 1 duo Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani will face veterans Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Azriyn Ayub, while Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun are set to take on Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi in another all-Malaysian clash. For Wee Kiong-Azriyn, there was a sense of relief after they finally cleared the opening round on Tuesday, defeating China's Xie Haonan-Zeng Weihan 21-17, 21-12. The pair had suffered seven consecutive first-round exits since the German Open in February. Ironically, the last time they progressed beyond the first round was also in Jakarta, at the Indonesia Masters on January where they were stopped by the same Chinese pair. 'Our last meeting with Haonan-Weihan was here in Indonesia, so we didn't have much confidence at the start. But after a few rallies, Azriyn found his rhythm. He led the way today (Tuesday) and we got back on track,' said Wee Kiong in an interview with BWF. 'For me, it's about using my experience to guide us. I let Azriyn do most of the court coverage as we try to close the gap with the top pairs. Hopefully, we can keep up this momentum.' Wee Kiong, 36, and Azriyn, 31, know they are no longer in their prime, but beyond chasing victories, they are also looking to enjoy the matches they play. In their past three meetings, Wee Kiong-Azriyn have only beaten Sze Fei-Izzuddin once, during the second round of the Kumamoto Masters last year. However, in their most recent clash at the Indian Open in March, they fell to the younger pair. 'At our age, we're still trying to achieve something. Of course, we want to enjoy the game and create something special in our careers. 'We've managed to clear the first hurdle, but we have to stay focused,' he added.
The Star
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Man-Tee out to score another first to set up dream finale with Aaron-Wooi Yik
Ready to go extra mile: Tee Kai Wun and Man Wei Chong in action against compatriots Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in the last eight. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Playing at home usually brings out the best from shuttlers Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun And the duo proved it once again when they rose to the occasion in front of the passionate home fans by finally ending their losing run to professionals Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani to reach the men's doubles semi-finals in the Malaysian Masters. World No. 2 Sze Fei-Izzuddin were the favourites in the match but Wei Chong-Kai Wun were unfazed and fought hard to come out on top 19-21, 21-7, 21-16 in 45 minutes at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil. It was world No. 8 Wei Chong-Kai Wun's first win over the independent duo after losing both their previous meetings at the 2022 German Open and 2024 China Open. They now have another chance to score a first when they face Japan's 2021 world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi in the last four today. Wei Chong-Kai Wun have never beaten Hoki-Kobayashi, losing both their previous encounters in the 2022 All-England and 2023 Asian Championships. If they win, it will be their second final in the tournament, having finished as the runners-up in the home Masters in 2023 to South Korea's Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae. They also reached the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open in January. On their fine form at home, Wei Chong said: 'We've more motivation when we play at home as we know that many fans from other states travel far to come to support us during the tournament here in Kuala Lumpur. 'We have never beaten Sze Fei-Izzuddin before this, so this is a breakthrough for us and boosts our confidence. ''Our strategy was to keep the rallies short, so physically we could still keep up in the third game. 'We also never gave up after losing the first game. Usually, we tend to slow down after going behind but this time we were mentally stronger and were solid in the second and third games.' Wei Chong-Kai Wun are slowly rediscovering their form after suffering early round defeats in their last four tournaments. 'We are slowly getting our rhythm back. We hope to maintain our form until the end of this tournament,' said Kai Wun. 'We have never won against Hoki-Kobayashi, so we need to discuss with our coaches and come up with the best strategy.' Meanwhile, Thailand Open champions and world No. 3 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik kept alive hopes of an all-Malaysian final in the men's doubles by coming out on top over Denmark's Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard 21-10, 21-19 in 36 minutes. Standing in their way to the final will be world No. 1 and defending champions Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark. The Malaysians hold a 8-4 record, but the Danes should not be under-estimated.
San Francisco Chronicle
23-05-2025
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
Alexander Zverev says lightning struck his flight to Paris for the French Open
PARIS (AP) — German tennis player Alexander Zverev said Friday his plane was hit lightning on the way to Paris for the French Open and had to turn around, delaying his arrival for the clay-court Grand Slam tournament. He wound up getting in at about 3 a.m. 'We were supposed to fly yesterday evening at 6:45 p.m., and we took off from Hamburg,' said Zverev, last year's runner-up at Roland-Garros and seeded No. 3 this year. 'We got struck by lightning. We had to do an emergency landing back in Hamburg.' By the time he got on a different flight, his journey resumed at 1 a.m. Zverev is scheduled to face Learner Tien of the United States in the first round on Sunday. Despite the initial mid-air scare, Zverev described the episode as basically uneventful. 'It made a little noise — no real wobbling or anything,' he said. 'It was a first-time experience.' Zverev lost his match at the German Open in Hamburg on Wednesday and said he was feeling ill. 'I think everybody that knows tennis saw I wasn't at 100%," he said Friday. ___
The Star
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Man-Tee knock out pros Goh-Izzuddin for first time to reach home semis
Superb show: National men's doubles shuttlers Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun played well to enter the semis at Malaysian Masters. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: National men doubles shuttlers Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun were jumping for joy after scoring a first in the Malaysian Masters. The duo pulled off an impressive win over professionals and world No. 2 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani 19-21, 21-7, 21-16 to march into the semi-finals at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil on Friday (May 23). World No. 8 Wei Chong-Kai Wun were the underdogs in the quarter-final match but they staged a remarkable come-from-behind win to pull off one of the huge upsets in 45 minutes. It was Wei Chong-Kai Wun's first ever win over the independent duo after losing both their previous meetings in the 2022 German Open and 2024 China Open. Wei Chong-Kai Wun will face Japan's 2021 world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi next on Saturday (May 24) for a place in the final.
