KUALA LUMPUR: The world No.1 crown is getting heavy for Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani who sagged under it at this week’s Indonesia Open.
The Malaysian top seeds unexpectedly went down 21-19, 6-21, 21-19 to Indonesia’s world No. 8 Sabar Karyaman-Moh Reza Isfahani in the last eight.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin should have won as they were leading 19-17 in the rubber. Perhaps the pressure and the expectations got to them.
Sze Fei hopes that the setback will make them stronger. “Painful losses, moments of doubt… but every struggle is shaping something bigger,” wrote Sze Fei on Instagram.
“Trust the process especially when it’s hard.”
Sze Fei-Izzuddin became the first Malaysians to scale the world No. 1 spot since Lee Chong Wei last held it in June 2017, and the first men’s pair since Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong’s achievement in March that year.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin’s struggles were already evident in the first two rounds of the Indonesia Open where they needed three games to overcome Taiwan’s world No. 21 Lee Fang Cheh-Lee Fang Jen and 28th-ranked compatriots Nur Mohd Azriyn-Tan Wee Kiong. Beating these opponents used to be routine for the Malaysian duo who captured four World Tour titles — the Japan, China, Arctic and India Opens — since August last year.
This is because Sze Fei-Izzuddin’s rivals have been analysing their play and coming up with more detailed strategies.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin have not reached the semi-finals on the World Tour since their last victory — at the India Open in January.
Doubles legend Datuk Razif Sidek had pointed out that it is now tougher for the duo to stay at the top. “Becoming world No. 1 is easier than remaining at the top because every rival will be chasing them now. They need to get used to the pressure and keep working hard and have new goals,” said Razif.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
