KUALA LUMPUR: Pearly Tan battled through cramps during Saturday's Arctic Open semi-final, but she and partner M. Thinaah displayed fighting spirit to book their spot in the final.
World No. 7 Pearly-Thinaah overcame Japan's No. 6 Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi in a gruelling encounter (21-19, 19-21, 26-24) in Vantaa, Finland.
The decisive third game was packed with drama as the Malaysians fought back from 19-17 down to force a deuce.
Rin-Kie saved five match points before Pearly-Thinaah finally sealed the win, securing their third World Tour final of the season.
During one of the rallies, Pearly suffered leg cramps, but she later confirmed it was due to exhaustion, giving the pair confidence as they prepare to face China's world No. 2, Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning in Sunday's final.
"It was just cramps, nothing serious. The match was tough," said Pearly.
"We're so relieved. The third game was neck-and-neck, and it made us nervous. We made some mistakes by rushing to get points.
"So, we comforted each other, stayed calm, and eventually secured the win.
"We're excited to be in our third final, and we hope to stay focused and enjoy the match."
Pearly-Thinaah were runners-up at this year's Korea Open before winning the Hong Kong Open two months ago.
Thinaah added: "For the final, we need to stay relaxed and not rush our shots. Recovery is key — plenty of stretching, eating well, and resting before the match."
Pearly-Thinaah have faced Sheng Shu-Tan Ning seven times, with the Malaysians winning three, including their victory in the Hong Kong Open final.
Fans can expect a thrilling final showdown.