KUALA LUMPUR: Pearly Tan is not shying away from the expectations that come with being part of the world No. 2 women’s doubles pair. However, as the Malaysia Open begins tomorrow, her focus remains firmly on the court.
Tan and her partner, M. Thinaah, head into the tournament as Malaysia’s leading women’s doubles combination, but with the awareness that history has not been on their side. The pair suffered early exits in the past three editions of the tournament.
“Everyone knows we have never really played well at the Malaysia Open,” Tan admitted.
“So that’s our main target this time. I just hope we can play well in the first round and clear the first hurdle.”
Tan and Thinaah open their campaign against Indian sisters Rutaparna and Swetaparna Panda, who are ranked 51 places below the Malaysians.
Despite their lofty ranking and growing reputation on the world tour, Tan is taking nothing for granted.
“I don’t think it will be easy. Everyone knows we have never really played well at the Malaysia Open, so that’s our main target this time,” she said.
“I hope we can play well and clear the first hurdle.”
Seeded second, Tan acknowledged that expectations are inevitable.
“We’re seeded second, so the expectations are high. We have to turn those expectations into motivation,” she said.
Maintaining their position among the elite, however, remains the biggest challenge.
“I’m still adjusting,” Tan explained.
“Playing at the top level is not that hard, but it’s also not easy. To maintain it is very tough. We have to know how to manage our time, how to rest well and how to train well.”
Rather than setting lofty targets, Tan said consistency is the priority for the year ahead.
“We want to maintain our momentum. There are always ups and downs, but we hope there won’t be too many,” she said.
Despite being the closest challengers to the world No. 1 spot, Tan remains realistic about the task ahead.
“The points gap is still quite huge. Even though it’s only first and second, everyone knows it’s still a long way to go. We’ve never won a Super 1000 tournament yet, so we’ll try.”
For the home crowd, Tan has a simple wish.
“I just hope the fans can keep watching us for many days at a tournament,” she said.
When pressed on whether that meant reaching the final, her reply was straightforward: “I’ll try my best.”
It has been 61 years since a Malaysian pair – Teoh Siew Yong and Rosalind Singha Ang – last won the women’s doubles title.
Tan and Thinaah have an opportunity to rewrite history this week.
Separately, Tan earlier today received a cheque for RM50,000 from sponsor 100Plus, which has supported her and Thinaah since before they became household names.
Asked how they would use the bonus, Tan said their packed schedule – which includes the Malaysia Open, India Open and Indonesia Masters over the next three weeks – leaves little time for anything else.
“There isn’t time to think about anything beyond training and competition,” she said.
The Malaysia Open at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil begins tomorrow at 9am.
