KUALA LUMPUR: Fatigue seemed to have set in for world No. 4 men's doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik as they were upset by teammates Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in the first round of the Arctic Open in Finland yesterday.
Shuttlers Aaron-Wooi Yik failed to live up to their second seeding at the Vaanta Energir Arena, losing tamely 21-11, 21-18 to world No. 23 Wei Chong-Kai Wun in just 26 minutes.
Including last week's Hangzhou Asian Games where they claimed a bronze medal, Aaron-Wooi Yik have seen action in eight of the past 13 weeks.
Had they not pulled out from the Hong Kong Open due to Wooi Yik's fever, they would have played for another week more. In that duration, they also travelled to six countries, including Australia and Denmark.
However, the defeat could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Aaron-Wooi Yik as they can now take a breather to gear up for the more important Denmark Open and French Open, both rated Super 750, in the coming weeks. The Arctic Open is a Super 500 event.
For the well-rested Wei Chong-Kai Wun, this week presents them with a great opportunity to address their inconsistency.
Since winning the Taiwan Open, they have not made it past the last 16 in their last four starts.
They will play Japan's Yoshinori Takeuchi-Keiichiro Matsui next and hope to seek revenge against the world No. 27 after losing to them in the Indonesia Open in June.
Also through were professional pair Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi who defeated the Grimley brothers, Grimley-Matthew of Scotland 21-11, 21-16. The third seeds will face another Scottish pair, Alexander Dunn-Adam Hall.
In men'a singles Leong Jun Hao joined Lee Zii Jia and Ng Tze Yong in the last 16 after fending off a stiff challenge from Finnish Joakim Oldorff 21-17, 22-20.
This set Jun Hao up for the next meeting with Frenchman Arnaund Merkle in what is a clash of the 2017 Asian Junior champion and the 2018 European Junior champion.
Notably, Jun Hao is a past winner of this tournament, formerly known as Finnish Open. He won it in 2018.
Anna Cheong-Teoh Mei Xing made it through the women's doubles last 16 when they beat South Africa's Amy Ackerman-Deidre Laurens 21-11, 21-10.
They joined third seeds Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah who had received a walkover from India's Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand.
Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien were knocked out by Taiwan's Sung Shuo Yun-Yu Chien Hui 21-17, 21-23, 21-19.