Tan/Lai Upset Third Seeds – Malaysia Open: Day 1
Home hopefuls Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing struck big on the opening day of the Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open 2019, beating third seeds Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino.
· DEV SUKUMAR
The Japanese, who were runners-up at the All England, were run over by the rampant Malaysians 21-16 21-15. Tan and Lai next take on India’s Pranaav Jerry Chopra/Sikki Reddy, who beat Ireland’s Sam Magee/Chloe Magee in a close match, 22-20 24-22.
In the same half of the draw, Indonesia’s Ricky Karandasuwardi/Pia Zebadiah Bernadet scraped past Russia’s Rodion Alimov/Alina Davletova by the narrowest of margins. The Indonesians saved three match points at the end of a tense final game, before converting their own fourth opportunity: 21-18 13-21 25-25.
In women’s doubles, Korea’s Chang Ye Na and Jung Kyung Eun pulled themselves out of a dire situation against China’s Li Wenmei/Zheng Yu. The Chinese led by a game and 18-11 before the Koreans reeled off seven points in a row.