KUALA LUMPUR: Independent pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai have to wait a luttle longer in ending their five-year World Tour title drought after going down fighting in the final of the Swiss Open in Basel today.
The world No 11, who last tasted success at the Singapore Open in 2018, lost 21-17, 19-21, 21-17 to rising Chinese pair Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin.
It was Soon Huat-Shevon's second successive final defeat in the Swiss Open as they fell just short of becoming the first-ever Malaysians winners of the tournament yet again in the mixed doubles.
Last year, they were denied by Germany's Mark Lamsfuss-Isabel Lohau.
For world No 33 Zhen Bang-Ya Xin, they have now collected two titles in as many tournaments after winning the Super 100 China Masters last week.
They first made their presence felt by finishing runners-up to compatriots Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping at the Indonesia Masters in January.
The emergence of Zhen Bang-Ya Xin underlines China's ambition to continue their dominance in mixed doubles at major championships.
World No 1 Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong and No 3 Wang Yi Lyu-Dong Ping are the reigning world champions and Olympic gold medallists, respectively.
Shevon admitted Zhen Bang-Ya Xin, just 21 and 22 of age, are a force to be reckoned with.
"We have noticed their presence since early this year. Playing them for the first time, they're indeed a really good pair," said Shevon.
"We gave everything we had in today's final. But they were the better pair of the day.
"I thought we did quite well against them, but in the third game, we squandered a couple of crucial points and lost our patience.
"From then on, we conceded more points and allowed them to gain their confidence.
"Thus young pair are really fast with their shots. They put pressure on you, and you're forced to keep up with their speed."
Soon Huat-Shevon have a chance to redeem themselves as they turn their attention to the Spain Masters which begins on Tuesday.
They will be looking to build on their best result of the season before the start of the Race to Paris qualification kicks off in May.
RESULTS
All finals
Men's singles: Koki Watanabe (Jpn) bt Chou Tien Chen (Jpn) 22-20, 18-21, 21-12.
Doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty (Ind) bt Ren Xiang Yu-Tan Qiang (Chn) 21-19, 24-22.
Women's singles: Pornpawee Chochuwong (Tha) bt Mia Blichfeldt (Den) 21-16, 21-18.
Doubles: Rena Miyaura-Ayako Sakuramoto (Jpn) w/o Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota (Jpn).
Mixed doubles: Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin (Chn) bt Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 21-17, 19-21, 21-17.