KUALA LUMPUR: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun made an uninspiring return to the World Tour as a reunited partnership after crashing out in the Denmark Open first round in Odense on Wednesday.
The world No. 12, who were ranked as high as No. 4 last year, suffered a disappointing 21-16, 22-20 defeat to Denmark's world No. 28 Christian Faust Kjaer-Rasmus Kjaer in 38 minutes.
It was a frustrating outcome for Wei Chong-Kai Wun, who had comfortably beaten the same opponents 21-11, 21-16 at last year's Australian Open.
Their early exit stood in contrast to Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, another established partnership restored following national men's doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi's experimental reshuffle.
Aaron-Wooi Yik marked their official reunion on Tuesday with an impressive three-game victory over defending champions and former world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi of Japan.
Both Malaysian combinations had been temporarily separated earlier this year as Herry experimented with alternative partnerships in search of stronger options for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Interestingly, Wei Chong and Kai Wun both enjoyed encouraging spells with their respective temporary partners.
Kai Wun formed a particularly successful combination with Yap Roy King, winning the Korea Masters in August before reaching the China Masters semi-finals the following month.
Wei Chong, meanwhile, partnered Wooi Yik and reached the Korea Masters final, where they were beaten by none other than Kai Wun-Roy King.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun briefly reunited for the World Championships in New Delhi in August, reaching the last 16, but their latest setback raises questions over how quickly they can rediscover their chemistry.
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Before the reshuffle, they had shown considerable consistency, reaching the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Open, India Open, Indonesia Masters and All England earlier this season.
They will now need a much-improved showing at next week's French Open, another Super 750 event, to demonstrate that their renewed partnership can still challenge the world's leading combinations.
Meanwhile, world No. 6 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin made light work of compatriots Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong, winning 21-14, 21-11 in just 27 minutes.
The sixth seeds are looking to regain momentum after a relatively subdued run since lifting the Indonesia Open title in June.
They have not reached another final since, with their more recent campaigns, including a first-round exit at the China Masters and a quarter-final finish at the Asian Games.
There was also good news for Chia Weijie-Teo Ee Yi, who defeated Taiwan's world No. 32 Chen Zhi Ray-Lin Yu Chieh 21-16, 21-15 in 30 minutes.
The world No. 58, who formed their partnership earlier this year, will face Sze Fei-Izzuddin in an all-Malaysian second-round clash today, guaranteeing Malaysia at least one men's doubles quarter-final berth.
In women's singles, world No. 37 Wong Ling Ching put up a brave fight before falling 19-21, 21-11, 21-19 to Japan's world No. 21 Riko Gunji in 67 minutes.
It was her third defeat in as many meetings against Gunji, extending the Japanese player's unbeaten head-to-head record against the Malaysian.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd