KUALA LUMPUR: Rachel Arnold is set for another great show at the US$64,000 (RM281,000) Ace Malaysia Cup which begins tomorrow after capturing the recent China Open.
The Kuala Lumpur player has moved up 11 spots to World No. 19 following her China Open triumph where she upset Egypt's world No. 8 and top seed Rowan Elaraby in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-finals, Rachel beat two-time national champion Aira Azman and in the final, she upstaged Egypt's world No. 15.
Rachel, 28, will be hoping to improve on her runner-up spot in last year's Malaysia Cup after losing to Nour El Tayeb of Egypt in Seremban.
"I think I feel more confident in my fitness and also in my movement now. That helps me a lot with staying mentally tough during crucial points," she said.
Rachel is third seeded in the Malaysia Open and she has received first round bye. She will meet either Ainaa Amani or Yasshmita Jadish Kumar in the second round.
Rachel is expected to take on world No. 34 and fifth seed Katie Maliff of England in the last eight. Her real challenge should come in the semi-finals against Egypt's world No. 10 Amina Orfi.
Malaysia's other main contender in the tournament will be world No. 9 and London Classic winner S. Sivasangari, who is the top seed.
Asked about her draw, Rachel said: "I will play against a Malaysian in my first match, so that will be a good match to start with.
"The glass court (at the Curve) is good, slightly hot in there but it's the same court as the China Open, so I feel it's okay," said Rachel.
The Malaysia Cup will be played at two different venues, at the Curve Mall in Petaling Jaya and at Jalan Duta Courts in Kuala Lumpur.
In the men's competition, the focus will be on German Open winner and world No. 14 Ng Eain Yow, who is the second seed. The top seed is world No. 11 Youssef Soliman of Egypt.