Pearly Tan–M. Thinaah finally cleared a long-standing Chinese obstacle by adopting a “patience over power” approach in their opening match of the World Tour Finals.
The world No. 2 Malaysian pair began their Group A campaign with an impressive 21-17, 21-11 victory over China’s world No. 4 Jia Yi Fan–Zhang Shu Xian at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre, snapping a five-match losing streak against the duo this year.
Instead of rushing rallies, Pearly and Thinaah stayed composed, trusted their patterns and maintained discipline throughout the match. The shift in mindset proved crucial, especially against a Chinese pair who had previously capitalised on any loss of control.
Pearly said after the match that patience and self-belief were key to the win, adding that both players constantly reminded each other to remain calm and confident on court.
Their tactical change was highlighted by a marathon rally in the second game, which they eventually won and which reflected their growing mental strength.
Thinaah explained that the new approach was part of a planned adjustment after multiple previous encounters with the Chinese pair, and she hopes the strategy will continue to deliver positive results.
Despite coming off a demanding SEA Games campaign in Thailand, where they secured the women’s doubles gold last week, Pearly-Thinaah showed no signs of fatigue in Hangzhou.
In mixed doubles Group B, world No. 4 Chen Tang Jie–Toh Ee Wei claimed a straight-games 21-13, 21-13 win over fellow Malaysians Goh Soon Huat–Shevon Lai in an all-Malaysian clash.
Ee Wei acknowledged the experience of their opponents and stressed that consistency remains the key area for improvement as the pair continue their development.
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