Four Malaysian men's pairs smash into French Open second round

KUALA LUMPUR: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik continued their strong form on the European swing by brushing aside China's two-time Thomas Cup heroes He Ji Ting-Ren Xiang Yu in the French Open first round on Wednesday.

Fresh from finishing runners-up at last week's Denmark Open, the world No. 4 needed just 37 minutes to overcome the Chinese pair 21-15, 21-19 at Arena Grand Paris.

It was a decent start for the fourth seeds against opponents who played a key role in China's Thomas Cup triumphs in 2024 and this year.

Ji Ting-Xiang Yu delivered the winning points in both finals.

Aaron-Wooi Yik also extended their head-to-head advantage over the Chinese to 3-2, having won their previous encounter at the 2024 World Tour Finals in Hangzhou.

The former world champions, who reached three World Tour finals this season without lifting a title, will be hoping to go one better in Paris after falling short in Denmark on Sunday.

They next face Thailand's Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul, whom they defeated in three games at the World Championships in August.

The Thai pair advanced after battling past Malaysia's Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong 19-21, 21-10, 21-19 in 56 minutes.

Meanwhile, world No. 11 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun also booked their place in the second round after coming from behind to defeat Japan's Kakeru Kumagai-Hiroki Nishi 18-21, 21-15, 21-17.

The Malaysians recovered from losing the opening game to complete the victory in 55 minutes, bouncing back from their first-round exit at last week's Denmark Open.

It was their first meeting with the world No. 18 Japanese pair.

Wei Chong-Kai Wun next face Japan's eighth seeds Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi, with the winners potentially meeting Aaron-Wooi Yik in the quarter-finals.

However, independent duo Chia Wei Jie-Teo Ee Yi could not join their compatriots in the last 16 after losing 21-16, 21-15 to China's Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi.

Overall, Malaysia have four men's doubles pairs in the second round, with Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin and Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King also advancing on Tuesday.

Sixth seeds Sze Fei-Izzuddin face Denmark's Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard on Thursday, while Arctic Open champions Aaron-Roy King have a tough assignment against world No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea.

Victories for both Malaysian pairs would set up another all-Malaysian quarter-final.