Malaysia Open 2025: Jonathan Christie Falls

Men's singles Jonatan Christie in the first round match of the Malaysia Open 2025 (doc. PBSI).

JAKARTA Indonesian men's singles, Jonatan Christie, immediately lifted the suitcase in the first round of the Malaysia Open 2025 due to being beaten by the French representative, Toma Junior Popov.

Jonathan, who is the third seed in this tournament, was forced to give up in a dramatic match of three games 8-21, 21-14, and 24-26 at Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur, on Wednesday, January 8, 2024, morning WIB.

"I think Toma is very ready today, as seen from the way he played he was more able to control the game first," Jonatan said in a statement.

This is Jonathan's first defeat in the history of their five meetings. Jonathan's four previous victories took place at the 2022 Swiss Open, 2022 World Championships, Indonesia Open 2023, and the 2024 China Open.

Jonathan said that he still needed time to adapt to the current men's singles new coach, Mulyo Handoyo.

"However, I am sure that with his quality, our cooperation will produce an increase in the future," said the 2018 Asian Games gold medalist.

Jonathan's defeat automatically left Anthony Sinisuka Ginting's men's singles. The badminton player from West Java will play his match this afternoon.

Jonathan was the third Indonesian representative to be eliminated in the first round of the Malaysia Open 2025. He followed in the footsteps of Gregoria Mariska Tunjung and Febriana Dwi Puji Kusuma/Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi.

So far, Indonesia has also secured three tickets for the second half through Dejan Ferdinandsyah/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja, Putri Kusuma Wardani, and Lanny Tria Mayasari/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti.