KUALA LUMPUR: World No 6 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah's hopes of becoming the first Malaysian women's doubles champions at the German Open have been dashed.
Their gallant run in the Super 300 tournament came an end after losing 24-22, 21-13 to top seeds Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida of Japan in the semi-final yesterday.
The script could have ended differently had Pearly-Thinaah converted two game points in the first game.
Pearly-Thinaah had clawed back from 17-9 down to reach game point at 20-19.
They had another opportunity to clinch the game at 21-20, but Matsuyama-Shida stamped their mark to claim four of the next five rallies.
In the second game, the Japanese stormed ahead 4-0 en route to sealing the match wire-to-wire.