Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah continued their French Open campaign with a hard-fought victory over compatriots Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting, admitting they are still feeling the effects of a demanding run of tournaments.

The world No. 4 women’s doubles pair took 46 minutes to secure a 21-14, 22-20 win at the Arena Grand Paris, booking their place in the quarter-finals. Although they controlled much of the opening game, Pearly and Thinaah faced a tougher challenge in the second before closing out the match in straight games.

Pearly acknowledged that neither player was at her physical best after a packed schedule that included the China Masters and Asian Games last month, followed by consecutive tournaments in Europe.

Despite the fatigue, the Malaysians remain focused on extending their winning run. Their triumph at last week’s Denmark Open ended an eight-month wait for a title and gave them an opportunity to achieve another milestone by winning consecutive World Tour tournaments.

Source: BWF World Tour

Pearly and Thinaah claimed three World Tour titles last year, winning the Thailand Open, Arctic Open and Kumamoto Masters. However, they have yet to secure titles at consecutive tournaments, making their French Open campaign an opportunity to break new ground.

Standing in their way in Friday’s quarter-finals are Bulgaria’s Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva. The eighth-seeded sisters, ranked world No. 9, will provide a stern test, although the Malaysians hold a 4-1 advantage in their head-to-head record. Pearly and Thinaah also defeated the Bulgarians 21-15, 21-10 at last year’s World Championships in Paris.

Thinaah expects the match to require patience, particularly because of the slow shuttle conditions at the venue. The Malaysians will need to adjust their tactics and manage their energy carefully against the experienced Bulgarian pair.

Pearly and Thinaah have yet to drop a game at this year’s French Open and will be looking to maintain that record as they pursue another title. The pair also have positive memories of the tournament, having won the French Open Super 750 crown in 2022.

With fatigue becoming a concern, their ability to manage their physical condition while maintaining their usual intensity could prove crucial to their chances of progressing further.