RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s men’s doubles pair Nikolaus Joaquin and Raymond Indra advanced to the round of 16 at the 2026 Indonesia Open after defeating a Japanese duo in straight games, 21‑9, 21‑13.

After the match, the Indonesian pair said their main focus has been improving their partnership as they continue to rebuild performance following results that fell short of expectations in previous tournaments.

Nikolaus explained that the aspect they have worked on most is their chemistry and cohesion on court. He noted that the improvement goes beyond communication and includes a deeper understanding of each other’s game.

“The main thing we are working on right now is our bonding as a pair. It is not only about communication, but also our connection on the court, playing techniques, and the strategies we use together,” he told reporters after the match at Istora Senayan in South Jakarta on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

He added that building stronger chemistry is essential to improving the quality of their performances. With a better partnership, they hope to execute strategies more effectively during matches.

Raymond also believes there are still many areas that need improvement to make their performances more consistent in future tournaments. For that reason, they continue to evaluate their game despite winning their opening match at the Indonesia Open.

“We are still trying to improve many aspects in a more specific way. Hopefully, our game will become more solid, and our results will continue to improve in the future,” he said.

Regarding their next opponents, Nikolaus stressed that every pair has a different playing style and must be approached accordingly. He noted that players from outside the national training center often present unfamiliar styles compared to opponents they frequently encounter in domestic competitions.

According to him, players within the national training center generally understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. In contrast, facing pairs from outside the system requires additional preparation because their playing patterns are not yet fully known.

Nikolaus and Raymond are scheduled to face Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik today, Thursday, June 4, 2026, at Istora Gelora Bung Karno (GBK), Senayan, Jakarta. (Diffa Sephiawardhani)