PETALING JAYA, May 22 — National men’s doubles pair Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King reached a career milestone at the Malaysia Masters today, booking their first-ever semi-final spot at a World Tour Super 500 event, according to Free Malaysia Today (FMT).
The world No 16 duo delivered a composed performance to defeat American pair Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith 21-15, 21-19 in 33 minutes at the Unifi Arena in Bukit Jalil.
It marked their third straight win over the US pair in as many meetings, further underlining their dominance in the head-to-head record, FMT reported.
The result continues an encouraging rise for the Malaysians, who previously won the Macau Open title and reached the semi-finals of the French Orleans Masters last year, both Super 300 events.
According to the report, their latest breakthrough now comes at a higher-tier Super 500 competition, signalling steady progress on the international circuit.
Wan Arif and Roy King will next face either Danish pair Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard or Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi in the semi-finals tomorrow.
Elsewhere in the men’s doubles draw, fellow Malaysians Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are scheduled to play their quarter-final matches later today.
In other action, women’s singles player K Letshanaa and mixed doubles world champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei will also be in action as Malaysia’s campaign continues at the tournament.