KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 4 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik hope their improved service and receiving tactics will end their poor record in World Tour finals as they start their French Open campaign tomorrow.
Aaron-Wooi Yik, who have won only six of their 26 World Tour finals, finished runners-up at last week's Denmark Open.
The 2022 world champions recently reunited after a brief three-month split initiated by national men's doubles coach Herry Iman Piengardi as part of a squad reshuffle.
They now appear relaxed as they embark on their second stint together.
"We are enjoying ourselves on the court. Service and receiving are our strong points, and we want to use them to our advantage at all times," said Aaron.
Those tactics will be put to the test when they face China's world No. 34 He Ji Ting-Ren Xiang Yu in the first round.
The Malaysian pair have lost twice in four meetings against the Chinese duo.
Wooi Yik said he is pleased with his progress, particularly his ability to cover the back court, which has made the combination more well-rounded.
"Obviously, my strength at the back court has improved. However, we are trying to polish our ability to control rallies," said Wooi Yik.
Meanwhile, world No. 11 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun will be looking to bounce back from their first-round exit at the Denmark Open when they take on Japan's world No. 18 Kakeru Kumagai-Hiroki Nishi tomorrow.
Independent pairs Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong (world No. 28) and Chia Wei Jie-Teo Ee Yi (world No. 49) are the other Malaysian combinations competing in the Super 750 event.
In the women's doubles, second seeds and world No. 4 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah begin their bid for back-to-back titles against Turkiye's world No. 25 Bengisu Ercetin-Nazlican Inci tomorrow.
Pearly-Thinaah won their eighth career title at the Denmark Open on Sunday.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
