KUALA LUMPUR: It is always tricky to play a new pair like Terry Hee–Gloria Emmanuel Widjaja, and the battle becomes even more complicated when they are from different nations.
This was the predicament world champions Chen Tang Jie–Toh Ee Wei encountered as they secured a cautious 21-16, 21-19 win in 37 minutes over Singapore–Indonesia combination Terry–Gloria to reach the Indonesia Masters semi-finals in Jakarta on Friday.
Terry–Gloria, playing in their first tournament together, gave some anxious moments to the Malaysian world No. 4 in the second game by taking 14-10 and 18-15 leads.
Tang Jie–Ee Wei managed to claw back to wrap up the match in straight games and check into their first semi-final of the year.
National mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto said Tang Jie-Ee Wei were affected more by the draught at the Istora Senayan than the unpredictable new pair.
“Actually, it’s not about the new pairing. I feel that one side of the court felt difficult when playing against the draught,” said Nova.
“So, Tang Jie-Ee Wei changed ends, and when they changed ends, they didn’t look comfortable. Many matches went to rubber games — maybe because of this reason.”
The victory was also a redemption after Tang Jie–Ee Wei fell in the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Open and suffered a shock first-round defeat to China‘s Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi in the India Open prior to the Indonesia Masters.
The India Open shocker also led to Ee Wei enduring a hard time on social media, where some netizens hurled harsh criticism at Ee Wei’s parents.
However, Tang Jie–Ee Wei have managed to recover from the setback and move into the last four, where a difficult task awaits them in the form of Chinese nemeses Jiang Zhen Bang–Wei Ya Xin.
Since beating the world No. 2 to win their historic crown at the Paris World Championships last year, the Malaysians have lost their last two meetings against Zhen Bang–Ya Xin, who also have a favourable 5-2 head-to-head record.
However, Zhen Bang–Ya Xin’s tough 22-20, 14-21, 21-19 win over Indonesia’s world No. 24 Adnan Maulana–Indra Chaya Sari Jamil in the last eight suggests that Tang Jie–Ee Wei may have a chance to secure an upset on Saturday.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
