KUCHING: Loo Bing Kun and Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan needed just 15 minutes to storm into the next round of the Australian Open in Sydney, dismantling Germany’s Calvin Devereux and Desiree Toepffer 21-1, 21-3 in a one-sided mixed doubles encounter.
The Malaysians conceded only four points throughout the match, producing one of the most dominant displays of the tournament so far despite entering the contest ranked below their German opponents.
If their opening-round victory was built on resilience, this one was all about authority.
From the opening rally, Bing Kun and Noraqilah seized complete control of the contest, leaving the Germans with little room to settle as points quickly piled up in Malaysia’s favour.
The first game lasted only a matter of minutes before the Malaysians stormed to a 21-1 victory.
Any hopes of a response were quickly extinguished in the second.
Bing Kun and Noraqilah maintained the same relentless intensity, dictating the pace of rallies and repeatedly forcing errors from their opponents before wrapping up the game 21-3.
By the time the final shuttle landed, the Malaysians had conceded just four points across the entire match.
There was also a striking contrast between the two partnerships.
At 24 and 18 respectively, Bing Kun and Noraqilah were the younger pair on court against the German combination of Devereux, 33, and Toepffer, 28.
The Germans also entered the match ranked higher at world No. 100 compared to the Malaysians’ No. 137.
Yet neither experience nor ranking translated into an advantage.
Instead, it was the younger Malaysians who looked the more composed partnership, taking complete control from the outset and never loosening their grip on the contest.
Joining them in the second round is men’s singles shuttler, Justin Hoh, following his triumph against India’s Kiran George over a 21-19,14-21, 21-15 set win.
