National mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie, currently ranked world number six, have admitted that there is still room for improvement despite securing a second-round berth at the PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2025.
The duo defeated the American pair Presley Smith and Jennie Gai with a comfortable 21-15, 21-19 win in just 36 minutes at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil. However, they acknowledged that their performance is not yet at its peak.
Speaking after the match, Shevon Lai admitted to struggling with consistency:
“We started positively, but we are still finding our rhythm, and my performance, in particular, wasn’t perfect. Luckily, Soon Huat supported me throughout and helped calm my nerves. I know I need to work on reducing errors and playing with greater consistency.”
As the 2024 Malaysia Masters champions, Soon Huat and Shevon are now seen as Malaysia’s key hopes on home soil, especially after the early exits of other prominent players. Notable casualties in the first round included the men’s doubles pair Nur Izzuddin Rumsani-Goh Sze Fei and women’s doubles Pearly Tan-M Thinaah.
Soon Huat, while pleased with their victory, emphasized the importance of maintaining focus:
“Our immediate target is to make it to the quarterfinals. For the second round, we need to be fully focused and avoid any lapses. The Malaysian Open is our first tournament of the year, so our physical condition is still adjusting.”
The duo will face the Indian pair Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath in the second round. A win will secure their spot in the quarterfinals, where they hope to surpass last year’s performance, which ended in disappointment in the second round against Thai duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
Soon Huat-Shevon are eager to carry the hopes of Malaysian fans and deliver a strong showing at the prestigious Super 1000 tournament. With their sights set on building momentum and improving their rhythm, the pair are determined to give their best performance in front of the home crowd.
The second-round match will serve as a crucial test of their preparation and resolve as they aim for a deeper run in the tournament.
Credit Photo : BAM
