KUALA LUMPUR – At the Stade Pierre de Coubertine in Paris, national No. 1 women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah won the French Open.
They were the first Malaysian women’s duo to win the French Open after defeating Japan’s two-time world champions Mayu Matsumoto-Wakana Nagahara 21-19, 18-21, 21-15.
After winning the Swiss Open in March last year, it was the world number 11 pair’s second BWF World Tour triumph.
Their first 72-minute match lasted.
Pearly-Thinaah began cautiously but quickly took an 18-10 lead in the first set. However, they suffered stressful moments when the Japanese pair caught up to 20-19 before they won.
Pearly-Thinaah couldn’t capitalise on their first set triumph, as Matsumoto-Nagahara won the second set 21-18 in 20 minutes.
After losing 2-6 in the rubber tie, the Malaysian couple recovered their rhythm and competitive spirit to take an 8-7 lead before winning 21-15 to earn the title.
In 2008, Malaysian women’s doubles pair Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui finished second in the French Open.
World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark won the men’s singles title by defeating compatriot Rasmus Gemke 21-14, 21-15.
Info source – BERNAMA