RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian men’s doubles pair Raymond Indra/Nikolaus Joaquin are bracing for a high-stakes quarterfinal clash against their senior teammates Fajar Alfian/Mohamad Shohibul Fikri at the Indonesia Masters 2026 in Istora Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday, January 23, 2026.

The encounter rekindles memories of their breakthrough victory at the Australia Open 2025, where the young duo stunned the world No. 4 pair in the final.

Raymond/Joaquin, making their debut in a BWF Super 500 tournament, advanced to the quarterfinals after a hard-fought rubber game win over Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuen. The pair credited the home crowd for lifting their spirits during critical moments of the match.

“The support was incredible, especially as hosts. It gave us extra energy when we were trailing,” Raymond said, as quoted by Antara.

For Joaquin, facing Fajar/Fikri in an official match is a long-awaited opportunity. “Honestly, I’ve been eager to play against our seniors in a real competition. In training, it feels awkward because they’re senior players. But in a match, it’s different. I just want to give my best and aim for victory against the world No. 3,” he said after Thursday’s match.

Raymond echoed the sentiment, noting that while practice sessions often carry a sense of restraint, official matches allow them to play more freely. “In training, it’s not always comfortable against them. But in competition, we can play without hesitation. The rest depends on the service judge and umpire,” he explained.

Despite their growing reputation, the duo urged fans to temper expectations. Joaquin emphasized that while their performances have been on the rise, consistency cannot be guaranteed.

“Right now, we’re doing well and people online are raising expectations. But we won’t always win or play perfectly. We hope supporters can lower their expectations a bit and enjoy our journey. We want to savor the process,” he said.

Looking ahead to Friday’s quarterfinal, Raymond acknowledged that conditions at Istora could favor their more experienced opponents. “The wind here is much stronger compared to Australia. They have more experience dealing with that,” he admitted.

Still, the young pair remain determined to replicate their success from last year’s Australia Open and prove they can once again challenge Indonesia’s top men’s doubles team. ***