KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysian pairs had it easy in the mixed doubles first round of the Australian Open today.
As expected, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying outclassed New Zealand’s Maika Phillips-Anona Pak 21-18, 21-12 while Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai beat the New Zealand-Canada combination of
Niccolo Tagle-Brittney Tam 21-13, 21-10.
However, coach Chin Eei Hui said the two Malaysian pairs need to raise their level.
“The opposition was not strong and our players were still trying to find their rhythm,” said Eei Hui.
“I see that Peng Soon-Liu Ying were playing a little slow today.”
That means Peng Soon-Liu Ying, who fell in the New Zealand Open quarter-finals last week, will need to raise their game in the second round.
“I hope they can at least reach the Australian Open semi-finals though it is a strong field,” added Eei Hui.
In the second round, Peng Soon-Liu Ying will battle Indonesia’s Ricky Karandasuwardi-Debby Susanto who had earlier ousted China’s Ou Xuanyi-Cao Tong Wei 13-21, 21-14, 21-11.