KUALA LUMPUR: Men’s doubles Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani avenged their defeat to Taiwan’s Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Poh Hsuan, but not before enduring tense moments to scrape into the China Masters quarter-finals in Shenzhen on Thursday.
World No. 3 Sze Fei-Izzuddin allowed the world No. 13 to save three match points at 20-17 in the second game before finally sealing a nervy 21-16, 22-20 victory in 36 minutes.
It was also the first time the Malaysians have reached the last eight since the Japan Open in July.
Izzuddin admitted their last-16 defeat to Jhe Huei-Poh Hsuan at the Paris World Championships had weighed on their minds during the clash at the Shenzhen Arena.
“The World Championships defeat did affect us a little, but we tried to learn from that mistake,” said Izzuddin.
“We have been struggling in the last few tournaments, but we’ve been trying to rebuild our confidence. It’s a good win, and let’s see how it goes.”
It was a crucial fourth win in six meetings (4-2) against Jhe Huei-Poh Hsuan, who have beaten several top Malaysian pairs except world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.
“We were thinking too much at the crucial stage (20-17) and tried too hard to stick to our game plan, so we were hesitant with our shots,” said Sze Fei.
“Compared to Paris, we were more patient towards the end this time and somehow managed to absorb the pressure.”
A tougher test awaits on Friday as Sze Fei-Izzuddin will face either China‘s world No. 5 Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang — fresh from winning the Hong Kong Open last week — or Indonesia’s world No. 76 Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri.
Wei Keng-Wang Chang hold a 3-1 head-to-head lead over the Malaysians, while Sze Fei-Izzuddin beat Fajar-Shohibul in the Japan Open quarter-finals in July.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
