Aaron-Wooi Yik in Denmark Open semis, to meet world No 1 pair

Malaysian men's doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik made a triumphant return to the semi-final stage of the Denmark Open on Friday. The world No. 4 Malaysian duo secured their place in the last eight by defeating Japan's world No. 41 Hiroki Okamura-Kyohei Yamashita 21-16, 21-18. This marked Aaron-Wooi Yik's sixth semi-final of the season.

Notably, it was at the Denmark Open in 2023 that Aaron-Wooi Yik claimed their maiden World Tour event. Chia expressed his satisfaction with the comeback, stating, "It's a good one for us to come back again."

The Malaysian pair will now face off against South Korea's world No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seung Jae in the upcoming match. The Malaysians aim to even their head-to-head record against the Korean star.

Before reaching this stage, Aaron-Wooi Yik had to overcome a tough first round against the defensively strong Okamura-Yamashita. Wooi Yik emphasized the importance of restricting the Japanese duo's counterattacks, particularly during the opening game. He acknowledged that they managed to keep things tight and not give the opponents many chances despite a few loose shots.

This will be the first time Aaron-Wooi Yik faces the unfamiliar duo, Okamura-Yamashita. The pair, however, are well-prepared as it is their first encounter with the opponents. Conversely, the semi-final presents a familiar challenge for the Malaysian duo, who trail Won Ho-Seung Jae 3-2 in their head-to-head record. However, the Malays triumphed in their most recent match, clinching victory in the World Championships semi-finals in August.

This win came after earlier losses to Won Ho-Seung Jae in the Malaysia Open and All England finals. Aaron-Wooi Yik also secured a victory over the Koreans in last year's Singapore Open final.

The Malays now stand a chance to beat Won Ho-Seung Jae in consecutive meetings, thus squaring the rivalry at three wins each.