KUALA LUMPUR: Chen Tang Jie-Chan Wen Tse continued their promising run as a temporary partnership after advancing to the Denmark Open mixed doubles second round in Odense today.
The Malaysians defeated compatriots Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin 21-19, 21-16 to register their second successive opening-round victory on the European tour.
Tang Jie, who has been without regular partner Toh Ee Wei since she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury at the Singapore Open in May, is making the most of his reunion with Wen Tse.
The pair also started strongly at last week's Arctic Open in Finland, beating compatriots Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing 21-15, 21-16 before falling 21-15, 21-14 to China's world No. 1 Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping in the second round.
Tang Jie-Wen Tse will next face either Indonesia's Amri Syahnawi-Nita Violina Marwah or China's sixth seeds Guo Xin Wa-Chen Fang Hui for a place in the quarter-finals tomorrow.
Meanwhile, independent pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai also made a winning start, defeating Americans Chen Zhi Yi-Francesca Corbett 21-15, 21-13.
The world No. 10 Malaysians, who suffered a first-round exit at the Arctic Open last week, will face a sterner examination against Denmark's world No. 3 and third seeds Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje in the second round.
Despite their comfortable victory, Shevon admitted that the hectic tournament schedule was taking its toll, particularly after the recent Asian Games.
"Honestly, it's quite tough because there's no break for us. The Asian Games and then here, but no excuses. Everyone is going through the same thing, so it's how we need to pace ourselves," said Shevon in a post-match interview.
The experienced campaigner stressed that staying injury-free and managing their physical condition had become increasingly important as they continued competing at the highest level.
"Definitely no injury for us now. Every tournament we finish without any injuries, without any accidents, that's the most grateful part of it.
"Winning or losing, finishing early or late, I think that's secondary now for us. We just want to enjoy and really do well."
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