Strong Malaysian presence in semi-finals
Wee Wern and Rachel Arnold were both tested by their opponents before advancing to the women’s semi-finals of the Malaysian Open yesterday.
Ng Eain Yow also won his match to maintain Malaysia’s interest in the men’s competition.
It was a similar storyline for both Wee Wern and Rachel, who are seeded second and third respectively, as they opened strongly against their quarter-final opponents but dropped a set each before sealing their last-four spots in the women’s US$20,000 (RM83,784) competition.
Wee Wern downed Egyptian seventh seed Menna Hamed 11-5, 11-3, 8-11, 11-3 while Rachel defeated national junior Ooi Kah Yan 11-3, 11-3, 7-11, 11-5.
Wee Wern, who battled a knee tendon strain recently, admitted she could have finished stronger but is pleased that her game is improving with each match.
“Menna has been having a good run on the PSA tour, and you can never take an Egyptian player for granted, especially the younger ones as they have nothing to lose,” said Wee Wern.
“She gave it her all. I should have closed it out a little bit better but the good thing was that I was able to come back in the fourth and finish it.
“It’s been pretty good so far this week, and I hope to keep improving tomorrow (today).”
Rachel faces Egyptian top seed Rowan Elaraby, who beat American Sabrina Sobhy 2-11, 11-7, 1210, 9-11, 11-9, while Wee Wern plays fourth-seeded Vanessa Chu of Hong Kong, who downed Aira Azman 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, in today’s semi-finals.
In the men’s competition, fourth seed Eain Yow defeated Pakistan's sixth-seeded Tayyab Aslam 11-9, 12-10, 11- 2 to book his last-four spot.
He plays Spain’s Cornes Ribadas or Portugal’s Rui Soares for a spot in the final of the US$30,000 (RM125,585) men’s draw.
It was the end of the road for fifth seed Ivan Yuen, who lost 1210, 11-6, 8-11, 6-11, 11-8 to Swiss second seed Nicholas Mueller.
Mueller plays Egyptian third seed Youssef Soliman, who defeated Spaniard Edmon Lopez 115, 11-7, 5-11, 9-11, 17-15, today.