Malaysia, Ratchanok’s ‘second home’, delivers third Masters crown

KUALA LUMPUR: Ratchanok Intanon has called Malaysia her “second home” after clinching a record third Malaysia Masters women’s singles title at Unifi Arena in Bukit Jalil on Sunday.

The world No. 7 from Thailand stunned China’s world No. 4 Chen Yu Fei 21-17, 21-15 in the final to become the most successful woman in the tournament’s history.

She is now ahead of India’s P. V. Sindhu and China’s Wang Zhi Yi, who have two each.

Ratchanok, also fondly known to fans as May, now trails only Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei, who remains the tournament’s most decorated singles champion with five titles, including four in succession from 2009 to 2012 and his last triumph in 2016.

The 31-year-old, who also won one of her three world junior titles in Alor Setar in 2009, said the country held a special place in her career.

“It’s like a second home, I can say like that,” she said in a post-match interview.

“The feeling is quite similar to Thailand, sometimes when I play in the Thailand Open, I play with a lot of pressure, but here I play quite relaxed and play like what I really want to play.”

Sunday’s victory ended a difficult four-match losing streak against Yu Fei, with the former Olympic gold medallist having dominated their previous meetings.

Ratchanok admitted she had been only half-convinced about competing in Kuala Lumpur after the Thailand Open last week, citing lingering concerns over her fitness and the psychological scars of past injuries.

“I was a bit scared, like, you have the scar in your feeling with the injury,” she said.

“But I think when I wake up, I just do my best every day, and I try to make my feelings happy if I can still open my eyes.”

The Thai star also drew attention with two playful on-court celebrations after winning her matches this week, including a “sleeping” gesture and the viral “6-7” trend popular with Gen Alpha audiences.

“For the sleeping celebration, I started it after playing a late match, like at 10 or 11pm, and the pose is like I’m saying good night,” she said.

“And for 6-7, it’s viral for the Gen Alpha, so I feel like I can win the Gen Alpha, winning their heart, because when they call my name, ‘Intanon 6-7’, so I feel like I’m young and I enjoy playing here.”

The title is Ratchanok’s first on the World Tour this year and her first since winning the Japan Masters last year

For Yu Fei, it was a second consecutive runners-up finish on the tour following her loss in the Thailand Open final last week, with her best result this season remaining the Indonesia Masters crown in January.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

المصدر: New Straits Times