KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 — World number two Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino of Japan are fired up to end their winless streak against South Korea’s Kim Won Ho-Jeong Na Eun and lift their first Malaysia Open mixed doubles title in tomorrow’s final.
Second seeds Watanabe-Higashino had to toil for a 21-15, 12-21, 21-15 win over China’s Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin in the semi-finals today to check into their second straight Malaysia Open final at the Axiata Arena here.
Watanabe hopes to develop a better strategy, so Higashino and himself can finally taste victory over the seventh-seeded Kim-Jeong, having lost to the South Korean in their three previous matchups.
The 26-year-old added that a victory in the final would go a long way to making amends for their disappointing 19-21, 11-21 defeat by China’s Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong in last year’s final.
“We aim to return to the court with a fresh mindset, give our best performance and emerge victorious tomorrow,” he said.
Kim-Jeong, meanwhile, will be making their maiden Super 1000 final after taking 41 minutes to end the gallant run of Singapore’s unseeded pair of Terry Hee-Jessica Tan, winning 21-16, 21-16.
A delighted Jeong said she was on the verge of tears upon securing a spot in the final and being just one step away from achieving the biggest title win in their career.
Their previous best achievement was winning the Thailand Open (Super 500) last year.
“I had butterflies in my stomach and was deeply moved by today’s result. We will give our best in the final tomorrow,” she said.
Kim, also optimistic about their chances of clinching the title, is determined to enhance their gameplay and on-court communication in the final.
The Singaporeans, beaten but not broken, have vowed to maintain their momentum as they head for the India Open in New Delhi next week.
Yesterday, the husband-and-wife combination stunned 2021 world champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand 21-16, 21-19 in the last eight.
In the women’s doubles semi-finals, fifth seeds Zhang Shu Xian-Zheng Yu of China sprang an upset when they beat second seeds Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee of South Korea 21-17, 21-17.
Zheng Yu described their victory today as being “particularly meaningful” as they had previously lost twice to Baek-Lee .
She stressed the result will boost their confidence ahead of the all-China final against eighth-seeded Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning, who thumped Japan’s Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi 21-11, 21-16 in the other semi-final.
Sheng Shu was delighted with their performance and, having captured four World Tour wins in 2023, is determined to start the year with a bang in the season opener.
— Bernama
