PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is assured of the men’s doubles crown at the French Open after Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun defeated their Indonesian rivals to reach the final.
In a rare feat at the 117-year history of the championships, they join women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah and mixed doubles duo Ho Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing to make it a record four Malaysian finalists at the World Tour Super 750 event.
The all-Malaysian final will end the nation’s 22-year wait for a men’s doubles title at the championships, which was last won by Gan Teik Chai-Koo Kien Keat in 2004.
World No 5 pair Sze Fei-Izzuddin showed they are serious contenders for the prestigious title after they took only 31 minutes to dispose of 25th-ranked Leo Rolly Carnando-Daniel Marthin 22-20, 21-9.
This is the third time the Malaysian pair have beaten their rivals in as many encounters.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin have been in excellent form in this tournament, defeating top pairs en route to the final, including South Korea’s world No 1 duo Kim Won Ho-Seu Seung Jae in the quarter-final.
Their world No 11 compatriots Wei Chong-Kai Wun displayed superb form to defeat up-and-coming Indonesian pair Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin, who are ranked three spots below them.
The Malaysians won 21-16, 21-15 in just 34 minutes in the semi-final to make their head-to-head encounters stand at one apiece.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin have beaten Wei Chong-Kai Wun twice in their three encounters. The last time they met was at the Malaysia Masters last year where Wei Chong-Kai Wun prevailed in three games.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin have so far won the Indonesia Masters and Indonesia Open tournaments while this is the first final for Wei Chong-Kai Wun this year.
The winners in the doubles categories will take home US$70,300 (RM287,000) and the runners-up US$33,250 (RM135,800).