KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 3 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani survived a huge scare before scraping past China‘s Xie Hao Nan-Zeng Wei Han in their Hong Kong Open opener on Tuesday.
The second seeds were pushed to the limit but held their nerve to prevail 21-12, 11-21, 21-19 in a tense first-ever meeting with their world No. 27 opponents.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin showed resilience in the decider, clawing back from 17-14 down to snatch victory and avoid what would have been another early exit.
The win comes as a relief for the Malaysian duo, who have been struggling for form.
They failed to defend their China Open in July after crashing out in the first round, and also fell in the last 16 at the recent World Championships in Paris.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin will now be determined to make their seeding count in Hong Kong.
They stand as the highest-ranked pair left in the draw following the shock departures of compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (No. 2 and top seeds) and Denmark’s Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (No. 4 and third seeds).
With world No. 1 and newly crowned world champions Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae skipping the tournament, the stage is set for the Malaysians to capitalise.
Barring any upset, Sze Fei-Izzuddin should be favourites in the last 16 against Taiwanese brothers Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen, whom they have beaten seven times in eight encounters.
Meanwhile, in the women’s doubles, world No. 20 Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing also endured a testing opener before overcoming Hong Kong’s Fan Ka Yan-Yau Mau Ying 21-15, 17-21, 21-12.
The Malaysians, who are equally eager to prove a point following a disappointing campaign in Paris, will next face Taiwan’s world No. 23 Hsu Ya Ching-Sung Yu Hsuan for a place in the quarter-finals.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
