4 days ago
Korean rivals a threat to Sze Fei-Izzuddin's double dream
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani's dream of becoming the first Malaysian pair to win the Japan Open title twice, face a major threat from South Korea's in-form Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae on Sunday.
However, world No. 3 Wan Ho-Seung Jae will still replace Sze Fei-Izzuddin as world No. 1 next week, regardless of the outcome in Tokyo.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin cannot afford another heartbreak at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
A win would see them stand alone as the only Malaysians to have won the Japan Open men's doubles crown twice.
So far, only Razif-Jalani Sidek (1986), Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock (1998), and Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng (2002) have claimed the prestigious Super 750 title.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin were in commanding form in yesterday's semi-finals, beating Taiwan's world No. 24 Liu Kuang Heng-Yang Po Han 21-19, 21-11 in just 35 minutes.
The head-to-head record stands at 1-1, but the Malaysians will take heart from their most recent meeting, having beaten the Koreans in the final of the India Open in January — their only title so far this year.
However, Wan Ho-Seung Jae are in red-hot form, having already captured four World Tour titles this season.
They booked their place in the final with a dominant 21-14, 21-15 win over Malaysia's Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi.
It wasn't quite a fairytale ending, but Yew Sin can take solace in rediscovering his spark in Tokyo in front of his newlywed wife, former Japanese star Aya Ohori.
After tying the knot with the former world No. 7 in Melaka last month, Yew Sin showed a renewed fire alongside Ee Yi, reaching the semi-finals after a torrid run of seven straight first-round exits.
It was their first semi-final appearance on the World Tour since the Malaysia Open in January, and it came on Ohori's home soil.
With their confidence restored, the independent pair will be looking to carry the momentum into next week's China Open.
