Heartbreak at home again for Sze Fei- Izzuddin [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: Men’s pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani suffered another heartbreak at the Malaysia Masters since losing in the final nine years ago.

The independent world No. 9 were unable to raise their game against Denmark’s world No. 18 Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard, suffering a 21-16, 21-17 defeat in a 42-minute final at the Unifi Arena on Sunday.

They could not replicate the form that saw them outplaying world No. 2 compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in the semi-final on Saturday.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who won the Indonesia Masters in January, lost in the 2017 Malaysia Masters final to Indonesians Berry Angriyawan-Hardianto.

“The opponents played very well and started piling the pressure on us from the start until the end,” said Izzuddin in the post-match interview.

“They seemed to have read our strategy early and we were late in changing our gameplay.”

Sze Fei said they need to improve on their service and receiving ahead of the Singapore Open, which begins on Tuesday.

Izzuddin is concerned about recovery and their mental strength as they will be playing in their third event in as many weeks, at the Singapore Open. They face Denmark’s world No. 10 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, who enjoy a 9-2 head-to-head record, in the first round.

The Malaysia Masters was Lundgaard-Vestergaard’s first World Tour event title, and they won US$39,500 (RM156,740). Sze Fei-Izzuddin settled for US$19,000.

It was the Danes’ second Malaysian scalp after toppling world No. 16 Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King in the last four on Saturday.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

المصدر: New Straits Times