KUALA LUMPUR: Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King’s defeat at the Kumamoto Masters ended Malaysia’s hopes of an all-Malaysian men’s doubles semi-final after they lost 21-19, 21-14 to Japan’s Kyohei Yamashita-Hiroki Midorikawa on Friday.
The world No. 19 were favoured on paper, but the world No. 29 Japanese extended their head-to-head lead to 3-1, having also beaten Arif-Roy King at the Malaysia Masters in May.
The Malaysians struggled to impose themselves in the second game and never found the rhythm needed to mount a late fightback.
Their loss ended Malaysia’s bid for two pairs in the semi-finals, which would have assured the nation a spot in the final, following world No. 4 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani’s earlier progression.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
