Not good enough
Chan-Goh enter semi-final in the US but Eei Hui not impressed
PETALING JAYA: Chan Peng SoonGoh Liu Ying reached the mixed doubles semi-finals at the US Open but coach Chin Ee Hui was far from impressed.
The world No. 31 needed 56 minutes to fend off a spirited English pair Gregory Mairs-Jenny Moore before winning 21-14, 16-21, 21-14 in the quarter-finals at the California State University in Fullerton on Friday.
Earlier, in the first round, the former world No. 3 did well to exact sweet revenge over South Korea’s Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung after having lost to them in the Australian Open final last month.
The Malaysians are now two steps away from winning their second title after lifting the Thailand Masters in January.
But Ee Hui said Peng Soon-Liu Ying were nowhere close to their best and would have to bring out their A-game against second seeds Mark Lamsfuss-Isabel Herttrich of Germany to reach their third final of the year.
The world No. 19 Lamsfuss-Herttrich, the European Championships bronze medallists, were convincing as they thumped China’s Lu Kai-Chen Lu 21-9, 21-15 in 30 minutes.
“I don’t think they have played well based on their form in the first three matches. They didn’t live up to my expectations,” said Eei Hui, a former national player.
“I want them to go all the way and win although they should not underestimate the German pair.
“Peng Soon-Liu Ying have beaten them previously (in the second round of German Open last year) but it’ll count for nothing,” she added.
Liu Ying admitted they played poorly against the world No. 48 Mairs-Moore.
“We couldn’t play our game as our opponents forced us to play defensively all the time,” said Liu Ying.
“Luckily, we regained our rhythm and turned the match to our favour. We anticipate a tough match against the Germans as we took three games to beat them (21-15, 16-21, 23-21) in last year’s German Open.”
Chow Mei Kuan-Vivian Hoo made it a great day for Malaysia by making short work of homesters Eva LeePaula Lynn OBanana with a 21-8, 21-12 win in 30 minutes to set up a match against Tang Jinhua-Yu Xiaohan of China next.
Mei Kuan-Vivian are aiming to add a third title to their collection after triumphing at the Vietnam International in March and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.