4 days ago
Tang Jie-Ee Wei admit rhythm still missing after shaky start
KUALA LUMPUR: Mixed doubles Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei showed grit and resilience as they battled through a mid-match wobble to overcome India's K. Dhruv-Tanisha Crasto in the first round of the Indonesia Open on Wednesday.
The world No. 4 made a strong start but struggled to maintain their rhythm, eventually pulling through with a hard-fought 21-11, 16-21, 21-14 win over the world No. 17 Indian duo at Istora Senayan in Jakarta.
The patchy performance was not unexpected, as the pair are only playing their second tournament together since reuniting earlier this year.
They resumed their partnership at last week's Singapore Open, where they crashed out in the second round to Taiwan's world No. 16 Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Chan.
Ee Wei admitted they are still working on their on-court chemistry.
"We're still finding our rhythm as a pair," she said.
"But we just kept believing in each other during the match, and that helped us pull through."
Tang Jie praised the Indian pair's intensity and said the tight opener will spur them to step up.
"Tanisha is always a tough opponent — aggressive and physically strong," he said.
"In the second game, we didn't adjust quickly enough. But after the interval in the third, we were more determined to win.
"We're still finding our rhythm, but if we keep trusting and pushing each other, we'll get there."
Tang Jie-Ee Wei will next face world No. 23 Mads Vestergaard-Christine Busch in the second round, after the Danish pair beat India's S. Ashith-P. Amrutha 21-15, 21-9.
The Malaysians hold a 2-0 head-to-head record against the Danes.
