Scratch pair Aaron Tai-Roy King storm into Arctic Open final

Scratch men’s doubles pair Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King produced another stunning performance to defeat higher-ranked opponents and reached the final of the Arctic Open, a World Tour Super 500 championships.

Despite playing together for the first time, the Malaysian duo played confidently to defeat world No 32 Danish pair Christian Faust Kjaer-Rasmus Kjaer 21-14, 21-16 in just 37 minutes at the Energia Areena in Vantaa, Finland last night.

The duo will face Taiwanese pair Lai Po Yu-Tsai Fu Cheng, who are ranked world No 37, in the final tonight.

This is the Malaysian duo’s fourth giant-killing feat in the championships after having beaten all higher-ranked pairs so far in straight games.

Following an upset win over their world No 24 compatriots Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong in the opening round, Aaron-Roy King went on to beat world No 21 ranked Taiwanese brothers Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen in the last 16.

They then defeated top Thai duo Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul in the quarter-finals.

Winners of the doubles titles in all categories will get a prize money of US$39,500 (RM160,654) while the runners-up take home US$19,000 (RM77,277). All semi-finalists earn US$7,000 (RM28,470) each.