PETALING JAYA: World mixed doubles champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei were given a scare by a much lower-ranked Taiwanese pair before they progressed to the second round of the French Open today.
Yang Po Hsuan-Hu Ling Fang, ranked world No 16, took the first game with relative ease before the world No 3 Malaysian pair picked themselves up to win 16-21, 21-16, 21-12 in 46 minutes at the Glaz Arena in Cesson-Sevigne.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei have beaten the Taiwanese pair in all their three encounters so far.
They will meet the winners of the match between Spain’s Ruben Garcia-Lucia Rodriguez and Taiwan’s Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Gonzales Chan in the next round.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei, who won the World Championships title in August, are seeking their second title this year after making seven semi-final appearances in international tournaments so far.
At the Denmark Open last week, they managed to reach the semi-finals before bowing out.