Raymond/Joaquin eye revenge in Indonesia Open final

Indonesian men's doubles pair Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin are driven by a desire for revenge as they prepare to face Malaysia's Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin in the Polytron Indonesia Open 2026 final on Sunday. The young Indonesian duo aims to avenge their loss to Goh and Izzuddin in the Indonesia Masters earlier this year.

In January, Raymond and Joaquin were defeated in straight games, 19-21, 13-21. "We've reviewed our previous match and evaluated our mistakes. We want to perform better than before," Joaquin stated after securing their final spot. Despite the earlier setback, the Indonesians have a positive record against their opponents, having previously defeated them 21-15, 21-15 at the Australian Open, a Super 500 event.

This final marks the third encounter between the two pairs and is not only a battle for the prestigious Super 1000 title but also a significant test of Raymond and Joaquin's recent progress. They earned their place in the final by defeating their senior compatriots, Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Mohammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, in a challenging semifinal match.

Joaquin described the semifinal victory as hard-fought, particularly in the second game where the score was tied at 16-16 before they pulled ahead. "I convinced myself that this opportunity doesn't come twice. Thank God we won," he said. Raymond added that the win against Gutama/Isfahani served as crucial preparation for the final, acknowledging the seniors' status as top players. The Indonesian pair's success in reaching the final also guarantees them a place in the top 10 world rankings next week, a goal they set at the beginning of the year.