KUALA LUMPUR: Men's pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun had previously made five appearances in Super 1000 tournaments without securing a single victory.
However, the world No. 20 are just two wins away from clinching their career-biggest victory at the Indonesia Open.
On Friday, Wei Chong-Kai Wun took a significant step towards achieving a feat accomplished by only two other Malaysian pairs by overcoming Taiwan's world No. 25 duo Lu Ching Yao-Yang Po Han 21-17, 18-21, 21-10 in the quarter-finals.
Their next opponents are Indonesia's Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, the world No. 29, whom they will be facing for the first time.
On paper, Wei Chong-Kai Wun's chances appear to be 50-50, but they will need to withstand the intimidating atmosphere at the renowned Istora Senayan.
Unsurprisingly, Kai Wun is not ready to celebrate yet.
"We're very happy to have made it to the semi-finals in this Super 1000 tournament, but we still have a match tomorrow, and we want to give it our all," declared Kai Wun.
"We did not expect this because we were always losing in the early rounds before."
A win will see Wei Chong-Kai Wun emulate their national No. 1 compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in reaching the final last year.
Only two Malaysian pairs have won the men's doubles title at the Indonesia Open - Razif and Jalani Sidek (1988 and 1990) and Zakry Latif-Fairuzizuan Tazari (2008)
Wei Chong-Kai Wun are the sole Malaysian survivors in the event following the exit of Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.
World No. 13 Sze Fei-Izzuddin put up a strong fight before losing 18-21, 21-18, 21-19 to world No. 2 Liang Wei Keng- Wang Chang of China in a nail-biting contest.
At one point, Sze Fei-Izzuddin seemed set for a straight-game victory when they led 16-13 in the second game.
However, Wei Keng-Wang Chang won six of the next ten rallies to force a decider.
The defeat saw Sze Fei-Izzuddin fail to avenge their earlier loss in the final of the Asia Championships in April.
Women's pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah were also eliminated in the quarter-finals but not before giving world No. 1 Chen Qing Chen-Jia Yi Fan a run for their money.
They failed to capitalise on an 18-16 lead in the second game and went down 22-20, 21-18, marking their sixth defeat in seven matches against the formidable Chinese duo.
Pearly preferred to look on the brighter side.
"Although we lost today, it's something positive for us because we played according to our discussions and plans, and we executed our strategy well," said Pearly.
"It's just that during crucial moments, I think their experience made the difference. I think this is what we need to learn from them."