Tan/Muralitharan defeat Japanese favorites in Japan Open 2025 semifinals

Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan achieved a remarkable feat at Japan Open 2025 — the Malaysian women’s doubles pair defeated home favorites Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

This semifinal match became a historic moment for Tan/Muralitharan — they improved their head-to-head record to 2-13 against the Japanese pair.

Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair showed dominance from the start — they led 11-4 at the first interval and maintained control throughout the game to secure a 21-13 victory.

This win holds special significance as this tournament marks one of the last appearances of Matsuyama/Shida as partners — they will part ways after the 2025 World Championships as Matsuyama decides to focus on mixed doubles.