Pearly Tan believes she is slowly regaining her confidence after she and M. Thinaah made a strong start at the China Open by reaching the second round with a convincing victory over Japan's Ririna Hiramoto and Kokona Ishikawa.
The Malaysian women's doubles pair delivered a composed performance to secure a 21-16, 21-12 win in Changzhou on Thursday (July 23), wrapping up the match in straight games.
The victory provided a timely boost for Pearly, who is still working her way back to her best form after dealing with injury setbacks. She admitted that she is not yet at her peak but is gradually becoming more comfortable on court.
Pearly said she is currently playing at around 70 to 80 per cent of her best level, but remains encouraged by the progress she has made.
She also credited Thinaah for her support during the recovery process, saying her partner's presence has helped ease the pressure as she continues to rebuild her confidence.
The win was also a positive response after the pair suffered an early exit at the Japan Open last week, where they were unable to defend their runners-up finish from the previous year.
With their confidence growing, Pearly and Thinaah will look to maintain their momentum as they continue their campaign at the World Tour Super 1000 tournament.
