Pearly-Thinaah 'running on empty' as Stoeva sisters await

KUALA LUMPUR: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are chasing successive World Tour titles for the first time, but the effects of a demanding tournament schedule are beginning to take their toll.

The world No. 4 kept their hopes alive after overcoming younger compatriots Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting 21-14, 22-20 in 46 minutes to reach the French Open quarter-finals on Thursday.

Pearly-Thinaah, the Denmark Open winners last week, were made to work harder in the second game before sealing victory at Arena Grand Paris.

However, Pearly admitted that they were far from their physical best after a busy schedule that included the China Masters and Asian Games last month, followed by back-to-back tournaments in Europe.

"I don't think physically we are very good. It's very obvious in the match, but we just keep reminding each other, believing in each other and trying to support each other," said Pearly in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation.

Although Pearly-Thinaah won three World Tour titles last year, at the Thailand Open, Arctic Open and Kumamoto Masters, they have never won titles at consecutive tournaments.

Their Denmark Open success, which ended an eight-month wait for another title, has given them an opportunity to achieve that milestone.

Standing in their way in Friday's quarter-finals are Bulgaria's eighth seeds Gabriela Stoeva-Stefani Stoeva.

The Malaysians hold a 4-1 head-to-head advantage over the world No. 9 Bulgarian sisters, having won their most recent encounter 21-15, 21-10 in the quarter-finals of last year's World Championships, also held in Paris.

Thinaah expects another physically demanding encounter, particularly with the slower shuttle conditions at the venue.

"We have to be really patient because they are physically very good and powerful," said Thinaah.

"With the slow conditions, we just have to prepare ourselves physically and mentally."

Pearly-Thinaah, who captured their breakthrough Super 750 title at the French Open in 2022, have yet to drop a game in Paris this week.