Malaysia’s hopes for a historic Japan Open women’s doubles title were dashed as Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah suffered a straight-game defeat (21-15, 21-14) to China’s Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning in Sunday’s final. The loss denied the world No. 3 pair a second World Tour title this season and a chance to become the first Malaysian duo to lift the Japan Open trophy.
Despite the setback, Pearly-Thinaah matched the achievement of Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty, the last Malaysian pair to reach the final in 2008. Their runners-up finish in Tokyo earned them US$33,250 (RM141,200) and further solidified their status as one of Malaysia’s top pairs.
For Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, the victory reinforced their dominance as the world No. 1 pair, successfully defending their Japan Open title. The Chinese duo have now won their last five meetings against Pearly-Thinaah, extending their head-to-head lead to 9-3, including last month’s Indonesia Open final.
While the defeat was disappointing, Pearly-Thinaah’s recent performances remain promising. They have reached three finals in their last six tournaments, including their Thailand Open triumph in May. Additionally, they made the semi-finals of the Malaysia Masters and the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open, showcasing their consistency on the World Tour.
The Malaysians will look to regroup as they continue their quest for a breakthrough victory against the world’s best pairs.
