Australian Open 2024: Hendra/Ahsan Optimistic Kans Big Champion

JAKARTA - The Indonesian men's doubles pair, Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan, are optimistic that they have a chance to come out as champions at the ongoing Australia Open 2024.

Hendra/Ahsan are currently in the second round of the tournament. They went through the first round after defeating the host's representatives, Lukas Defolky/Ricky Tang, on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Hendra, who came with his partner as the second seed, said after the match that their true chances existed. However, it will not be easy.

"There are still young Malaysian doubles. Their performance is also good. We have to stay focused and hopefully it will run smoothly until the final," said Hendra in a statement from PBSI received by VOI.

The Malaysian pair in question by Hendra is the men's doubles Junaidi Arif/Roy King Yap, which is the fourth seed in the tournament. If The Daddies were able to penetrate the semifinals then the pair would likely be their opponent.

If it could penetrate the final round, Hendra / Ahsan would definitely be awaited by other tough opponents. The reason is, in the top half of the draw chart, there are still four other seeds.

The four seeds are Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub Azriyn/Tan Wee Kiong (5), CHOng Hon Jian/Muhammad Haikal (3), and Kang Khai Xing/Aaron Tai (7) who are both from Malaysia and the first seeds from China, He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu.

Hendra/Ahsan will continue their efforts on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Their opponents in the second round were the mixed pair of Australia and South Korea, Ting Yuan-Kuo/Lee Jae-sun.

"Preparing for the second match, we have a one-day break. We use it for training and recovery only," said Hendra, who won the men's doubles gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with Markis Kido.

The Daddies are one of eight Indonesian representatives who have penetrated the second round of the tournament from nine representatives sent to the BWF Super 500 level event.

The only representatives who immediately returned home in the first half were the mixed doubles Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Lisa Ayu Kusumawati. The fourth-seeded pair lost to Malaysia's representative, Choong Hon Jian/Go Pei Kee.

Seven other representatives who accompanied Hendra/Ahsan to the second round were Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo, Alwi Farhan, Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo, Komang Ayu Cahya Dewi, Putri Kusuma Wardani, Febriana Dwi Puji Kusuma/Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi, and Jafar Hidayatullah/Aisyah Salsabila Putri Pranata.

Of these representatives, only Febriana/Amalia did not issue a dryfall to reach the second half. You see, they got an empty draw in the first half.