2nd French Open final for Pearly-Thinaah after beating Japanese rivals

 The shuttlers, who won the title in 2022, became the only Malaysian women's doubles pair to achieve the feat in the tournament's 117-year history.

Pearly Tan-M Thinaah beat Japan’s Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakashini 21-17, 22-20 in the semi-final of the French Open. (EPA Images pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Pearly Tan-M Thinaah have created badminton history by becoming the only women’s doubles pair to enter the final of the French Open twice after defeating Japan’s Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakashini in the semi-final today.

In 2022, the world No 4 pair became the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to lift the French Open crown since the inception of the tournament in 1909.

In their last-four match today, Pearly-Thinaah had to dig deep before overcoming the fifth-ranked Japanese pair 21-17, 22-20 in 46 minutes at Arena Grand Paris.

Pearly-Thinaah are hoping to win back-to-back titles after winning the Super 750 Denmark Open last weekend.

Besides the Danish title, the Malaysians had won the Indonesia Masters in January.

They are the second pair to reach the French Open finals after mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing won their semi-final earlier.

The winners in the doubles categories will take home US$70,300 (RM287,048) and the runners-up US$33,250 (RM135,766). The losing semi-finalists will receive US$13,300 (RM54,306). - FMT