KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani made a winning debut as independent players, but it was fellow professionals Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub who stole the spotlight in the first round of the Hong Kong Open today.
World No. 52 Wee Kiong-Azriyn achieved perhaps their most significant victory since teaming up 15 months ago, upsetting Denmark's world No. 13 Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard 21-15, 21-23, 21-19 at Hong Kong Coliseum.
Wee Kiong-Azriyn, whose best results on the World Tour were reaching three Super 100-level event semi-finals, will now vie for their first Super 500 quarter-final berth.
Their next opponents will be either Taiwan's Wang Chi Lin-Chiu Hsiang Chieh or Hong Kong's Hung Kuei Chun-Lui Chun Wai.
World No. 12 Sze Fei-Izzuddin, debuting with their new Victor kit and racquet sponsorship, overcame an early challenge to defeat Taiwan's Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen 21-17, 15-21, 24-22.
The match concluded dramatically, with Sze Fei-Izzuddin requiring eight match points to secure victory after uncharacteristically allowing their opponents to recover from a 20-14 deficit.
Fresh from their Japan Open triumph two weeks ago, Sze Fei-Izzuddin now face a formidable test in the last 16 against Indonesia's newly formed pair, Muhammad Shobihul Fikri-Daniel Marthin.
Also advancing were Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who emerged victorious in an all-Malaysian encounter against teammates Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King. Wei Chong-Kai Wun won 15-21, 21-8, 21-11, setting up a clash with China's Xie Hao Nan-Zeng Wei Han next.
However, seasoned professionals, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, suffered an early exit, falling to China's Chen Xu Jun-Liu Yi 21-14, 18-21, 21-19.