Anna 
The German Open kicks off today in Mulheim, with Malaysia’s top men’s singles player, Justin Hoh, facing a challenging start. As the highest-ranked Malaysian in the absence of Lee Zii Jia and Leong Jun Hao, Justin, who is ranked No. 51 in the world, is under the spotlight.
The 20-year-old will face Japan’s No. 43, Takuma Obayashi, in his opening match. Justin holds a slight edge, having defeated Obayashi in their only previous meeting at the 2023 Osaka International Challenge. However, Obayashi has improved since then, even beating higher-ranked Leong Jun Hao three times in their last four encounters. If Justin manages to defeat the 25-year-old, he may face another tough opponent in the second round, likely Thailand Masters champion Jason Teh of Singapore.
Singles head coach Kenneth Jonassen expressed confidence in Justin’s preparation for the German Open, as well as upcoming tournaments such as the Orleans Masters (March 4-9) in France and the Swiss Open (March 18-23) in Basel. Jonassen noted, “Justin has had solid preparations. The German Open and the two other World Tour Super 300 events will provide great opportunities for him to learn and develop.”
After a first-round exit at the Thailand Masters, Justin aims to improve his performance at this Super 300 event. His best result in a Super 300 competition came last September, when he reached the quarter-finals at the Taiwan Open.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Cheam June Wei will also compete in the men’s singles at the German Open, facing Taiwan’s Su Liyang in the first round. In the women’s singles, K. Letshanaa will meet Denmark’s Julie Dawall Jakobsen, while S. Kisona will take on Spain’s Clara Azurmendi in the qualifying round.
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