Nova issues last-four challenge to Tang Jie and Ee Wei

PETALING JAYA: National mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto has set top pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei a semi-final target in the French Open.

Nova wants world No. 9 Tang Jie-Ee Wei to bounce back after the duo exited last week’s Denmark Open in the second round after going down 15-21, 12-21 to Thailand’s 2021 world champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai.

Tang Jie-Ee Wei have proven their capabilities in rebounding well from setbacks before and Nova wants the pair to show the same resilience in the French tourney, which got underway in Rennes yesterday.

“My hope is for Tang Jie-Ee Wei to reach the semi-finals,” said Nova.

“The tournaments are back-to-back, so the main thing for them is to maintain their condition and focus.”

Tang Jie-Ee Wei will open their campaign today in the first round against Denmark’s Mads Vestergaard-Christine Busch.

The latter were promoted from the reserves list after their world No. 10 compatriots Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje withdrew from the tournament.

Tang Jie-Ee Wei should have little trouble beating Vestergaard-Busch, who are ranked 37th in the world.

It will get harder in the second round as they are likely to face world No. 8 home pair Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue.

A win over Delphine-Delrue could see Tang Jie-Ee Wei go up against China’s newly crowned Denmark Open champions and world No. 3 Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping in the quarter-finals.

Independent pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie will also see action today against Taiwan’s Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang.

In the men’s doubles, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who moved one rung up to No. 3 in the world rankings after capturing the Denmark Open, have a tricky task against Indonesia’s world No. 13 Leo Rolly-Daniel Marthin in their opening match.

Another pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun will play Denmark’s Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard.

In the men’s singles, Denmark Open runner-up Lee Zii Jia has a quick rematch in the opening round against the man who beat him in the final in Odense, Weng Hongyang of China, while Ng Tze Yong will meet Holland’s Mark Caljouw.