PETALING JAYA: It has been six months since Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani played their last competitive match but the pair made an emotional return at the US Open in Country Bluffs, Iowa, on Tuesday.
Their expected first-round 21-16, 21-13 win over Job Castillo-Juan Montoya of Mexico wasn’t totally one-sided.
But it was still a much-needed winning start for a pair who have been given a second chance to resurrect their career, which almost self-destructed in January.
A lack of trust, as confessed by Izzuddin, gave national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky no choice but to split their partnership after they suffered a first-round exit at the India Open.
Izzuddin then chose Haikal Nazri as his new partner while a distraught Sze Fei was paired off with Goh Boon Sze but a lack of results forced the duo to put their differences aside and reunite.
However, that came with a directive as Rexy wanted the pair to raise their game and fight for a place in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Indonesian is also expecting them to win the US Open to show that they are back on track.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who were ranked world No. 9 once, has slipped to No. 53 and a good start should set them on the right path.
National doubles coach Tan Bin Shen added that Sze Fei-Izzuddin have been positive in training prior to the US Open and hopes to see them play with trust and conviction.
“I think it is a good start. I’m not with them in the US but according to (Poh Chai) Boon, they played well,” said Bin Shen.
“Their preparation before leaving for the US tournament has been good and I can see that they are really looking forward to making their partnership work this time.
“I hope they can play like how they performed in training. They just need to be prepared for the coming matches.
“Stop over-wwwthinking and just give their best when they are on court.”
Sze Fei-Izzuddin will play American pair Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith in the second round tomorrow.
Top seeds Su Ching-heng-Ye Hong-wei of Taiwan and fifth seeds Chen Boyang-Liu Yi of China could deny Sze Fei-Izzuddin a successful run.
