KUALA LUMPUR: National coaching director Rexy Mainaky wants Pearly-Thinaah to begin focusing on next year's World Tour season, starting with the Malaysia Open, following a challenging but rewarding season.
World No. 7 Pearly-Thinaah have played 18 tournaments this year, gaining attention at the Paris Olympics by becoming the first Malaysian pair to reach the women's doubles semi-finals of the prestigious Games.
They also claimed the Hong Kong Open title and finished runners-up at the Korea Open and Arctic Open, all Super 500 events.
The duo have already booked their place at next month's World Tour Finals (WTF) in Hangzhou but must first compete in the Super 750 China Masters, starting tomorrow in Shenzhen, due to mandatory participation rules for top-10 players in Super 750 and Super 1000 events.
Despite their busy schedule, Rexy is not putting pressure on the pair for results in Shenzhen, instead urging them to focus on recovery and preparations for the Malaysia Open on Jan 7-12.
"It has been a long season for Pearly-Thinaah, and there is no pressure on them at the China Masters," said Rexy.
"I want them to maintain their momentum and be ready for the Malaysia Open next year."
After the China Masters and WTF, they will concentrate fully on recovery and preparation for the Super 1000 home event."
Pearly-Thinaah have struggled at the Malaysia Open, exiting in the second round on their 2022 debut and suffering first-round defeats in 2023 and 2024.
No Malaysian pair has won the women's doubles title at the tournament since Teoh Siew Yong-Rosalind Singha Ang in 1964.
At the China Masters, Pearly-Thinaah will face unranked home pair Ding Ke Yun and Wang Yi Duo in the opening round.
Meanwhile, men's doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik have everything to play for in Shenzhen as the world No. 6 chase a spot in the WTF.
Currently 10th in the World Tour rankings, the pair need to climb to the top seven, which likely requires a semi-final finish in Shenzhen following their second-round exit at last week's Kumamoto Masters.
They face Indonesia's Shohibul Fikri and Daniel Marthin in their opening match.
Other Malaysian pairs in action include World No. 8 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri, Ong Yew Sin-Teoh Ee Yi, Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King and Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong.