Tough opener: Chen Tang Jie (right) and Toh Ee Wei have a tricky first-round match against Taiwan’s Ye Hong-wei-Lee Chia-hsin. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto has called on Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei to adopt a patient approach during matches after seeing his charges make a slow start to the year.
World No. 9 Tang Jie-Ee Wei, who had progressed fast up the ranks last year to become the No. 1 mixed pair in the country after only being combined at the end of 2022, suffered second-round exits in both the Malaysian and Indian Opens.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei surprisingly went down 22-24, 14-21 to Japan’s world No. 12 Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito in the home tourney before losing 19-21, 16-21 to Thailand’s 2021 world champions and eventual winners Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerat–tanachai in India.
Nova acknowledged that the pair have work to do to reverse their fortunes.
“Tang Jie-Ee Wei’s performances have not been good in these two tournaments and their results have been below par,” said Nova.
“They need to be more patient during long rallies and be more confident when taking on top pairs.”
Nova wants Tang Jie-Ee Wei to do better in the Indonesian Masters starting tomorrow in Jakarta.
The duo have a tricky first-round match against Taiwan’s world No. 13 Ye Hong-wei-Lee Chia-hsin, who enjoyed a good run in the Indian tourney where they stunned South Korea’s reigning world champions Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung en route to a semi-final finish.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei though have never lost to the Taiwanese pair in all four of their past encounters and Nova has backed his charges to come out on top again.
“The Taiwanese pair have improved a lot but Tang Jie-Ee Wei have always beaten them,” said Nova.
“So, I’m confident that they can win again this time. I want them to do better in this tournament.”
Another win over Hong-wei-Chia-hsin will likely see Tang Jie-Ee Wei meet homesters and world No. 20 Rehan Naufal-Lisa Ayu in the second round.
Meanwhile, the other Malaysian mixed doubles in the fray are professional pairs Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See.
