Korea Open 2026: Man-Tee Sink Japanese Duo to Semi-Finals
The Malaysian third seeds erased a massive second-game deficit, surviving five game points to book their ticket to the Korea Open semi-finals.
Malaysian men's doubles stars Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun delivered a breathtaking display of mental resilience, defeating Japan's Haruki Kawabe and Kenta Matsukawa in the quarter-finals of the YEOSU VICTOR Korea Open 2026.
Entering the tournament as the third seeds, the dynamic Malaysian duo secured a dramatic straight-sets victory, dispatching their Japanese opponents 21-14, 26-24 to advance to the next stage of the Super 500 event.
The Malaysians completely dominated the opening exchange. Dictating the tempo from the first serve, Man and Tee strung together an impressive run of seven consecutive points to leave Kawabe and Matsukawa trailing. They maintained their relentless pressure to comfortably close out the first set 21-14.
However, the narrative shifted drastically in the second game. The Japanese pair fought back fiercely, putting the Malaysians on the ropes by racking up six consecutive points to build a commanding lead. Kawabe and Matsukawa looked absolutely destined to force a deciding rubber after earning five game points.
Refusing to surrender, Man and Tee orchestrated a phenomenal late-game fightback. Trailing heavily, the Malaysians clawed their way back point by point to force a nerve-wracking deuce battle. Showcasing elite composure, they successfully capitalized on their third game point opportunity to seal the marathon second set 26-24 and claim the match outright.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
