KUALA LUMPUR: National coaching director Rexy Mainaky has urged women's doubles world No. 6 Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah to move away from their one-dimensional playing style and swiftly improve their physical condition to enhance their ability to win.
After a successful 2024, including a semi-final appearance at the Paris Olympics, a Hong Kong Open Super 500 title, and a second-place finish at the China Open Super 1000, much was expected of them at the ongoing Malaysia Open.
National women's doubles coach Rosman Razak even predicted his pair would challenge world No. 1 Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning of China and No. 2 Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee, with hopes of securing Malaysia's first women's doubles title since 1965.
However, their first-round loss to Indonesia's new pairing Lanny Tria Mayasari-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti, world No. 80, was a shock.
The Indonesians, playing just their fifth tournament together, triumphed in three games (19-21, 21-14, 21-13), leaving Pearly-Thinaah appearing off form.
A concerned Rexy urged Pearly-Thinaah to vary their tactics and improve their physical conditioning to bounce back.
"Their performance was poor, relying too much on hard smashes with only one attacking style," said Rexy. "They need to add variety to their attacks and improve their physical condition to overcome this struggle."
This defeat continued their disappointing Malaysia Open run, marking their third consecutive early exit.
Pearly-Thinaah's hopes of winning the title, last claimed by Teoh Siew Yong-Rosalindh Singha Ang in 1965, have ended.
Rosman must now decide whether to send them to the India Open Super 750 (Jan 14-19) and Indonesia Open Super 500 (Jan 21-26) or focus on their training.
The India Open is a compulsory event for top 10 pairs, meaning Pearly-Thinaah may face another week of challenges in their current form, with a potential second-round clash against Olympic champion Jia Yi Fan and her new partner Zhang Shu Xian.