KUALA LUMPUR: Arctic Open champions Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King believe they have nothing to fear when they face "big brothers" Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in an all-Malaysian men's doubles last-16 clash at the Denmark Open tomorrow.
Fresh from winning their maiden title as a pair at the Super 500 Arctic Open last week, world No. 142 Aaron-Roy King defeated South Korea's scratch pair Kang Min-hyuk-Lee Jong-min 13-21, 21-18, 21-19 in a 57-minute first-round match.
The 20-year-old Aaron Tai said he was looking forward to the exciting showdown against world No. 4 Aaron Chia-Wooi Yik.
"Nothing to be scared of. We just want to play our best," said Aaron Tai.
Aaron Tai has some inside knowledge of the senior pair, having partnered Aaron Chia to a runner-up finish at the recent Taiwan Open.
Meanwhile, Aaron Chia-Wooi Yik issued a warning to their younger compatriots after recording a 21-19, 14-21, 21-11 win over Japan's world No. 8 Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi on Tuesday.
Addressing their first-round performance, Roy King said fatigue from the Arctic Open was not an issue, though adjusting to court conditions and a lack of practice time at the venue presented challenges against the Koreans.
"It was our first time testing the court, so we felt a little uncomfortable in the first game. However, we slowly found our rhythm from the second game.
"We were not tired, but we took some time to get used to the court conditions. I believe we managed the issues well," he said.
In mixed doubles, world No. 10 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai opened their campaign with a 21-15, 21-13 win over world No. 43 Chen Zhi Yi-Francesca Corbett of the United States to reach the last 16.
Second seeds Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will begin their women's doubles campaign in the last 16 tomorrow after receiving a first-round bye.
In women's singles, world No. 27 K. Letshanaa crashed out in the first round after losing 21-5, 21-18 to Denmark's world No. 12 Line Christophersen.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd