A steady week has propelled Yang Po-hsuan and Hu Ling Fang into their biggest final as a pair at the Super 750 KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2024.

Having taken out third seeds Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino, the in-form Guo Xin Wa/Chen Fang Hui and higher-ranked compatriots Ye Hong Wei/Lee Chia Hsin, the Chinese Taipei tandem marched into the first title match of their six-year partnership following a 21-17 21-12 win over fellow surprise semifinalists Mads Vestergaard/Christine Busch of Denmark.

“Happy, very happy,” said Hu matter-of-factly post-match. “We are just doing what we should do. To be honest, I didn’t expect us to reach this far. But (throughout the week) our error count has been low and our stability increased. We tried having longer rallies.”

Yang and Hu first came together in late 2018. Their previous best result was a semifinal at the Super 500 Malaysia Masters in 2022. Before today, the world No.28s had never made past the second round at levels above that.

In the final, they contend top seeds and world No.1s Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong – incidentally the duo who denied them in Malaysia two years ago – for the title. While they are yet to outdo the Chinese after five attempts, Yang/Hu go into the match with a positive mind.

Yang, runner-up in men’s doubles with Lee Jhe Huei at March’s French Open, said: “I’m quite calm. I’m just going out to play.”

Hu added: “I wish we can beat them in two games. But really, it’s an opportunity to learn from the world’s best pair.”

Chinese Taipei have only won the mixed doubles once, courtesy of Chen Hung Ling/Cheng Wen Hsing in 2012.

→ Results (Semifinals)

→ Order of play (Finals)

WHAT OTHERS SAID:

“It’s been up to expectations. Our training the past few weeks in China has been very systematic so we are looking forward to competing. Every match we win is a progress.” – Jia Yi Fan on the form of her pairing with Chen Qing Chen

“The head-to-head against her, I was at one point trailing 7-0. At the moment, I still have a few memories of beating her. It’s a good opportunity to have a match against her before the Olympics, I’m looking forward to it.” – An Se Young on playing Chen Yu Fei

“Playing against a Chinese team, they have great speed and power. We will meet them for the first time as a pair as well so let’s watch their video and discuss the strategy.” – Fajar Alfian on facing He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu