Indonesian mixed doubles pair Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja are grateful to have reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open after defeating Liu Kuang Heng/Hsu Yin-Hui of Taiwan.
The eighth seed advanced to the last eight after winning 21-16, 21-17 at Quaycentre, Olympic Boulevard, Sydney, on Thursday.
"It feels great to reach the quarterfinals in our third comeback match against Rehan. Although it was a step-by-step process, we've reached this level. We're truly grateful to have survived this long," Gloria said in an official PBSI statement after the match.
The victory was a significant achievement for Rehan/Gloria, who are still trying to regain their rhythm after Rehan recovered from injury. For Rehan, the Australian Open marked his third tournament with Gloria.
Rehan said his main focus right now isn't just on chasing results, but also on maintaining his physical condition so that the comeback process is gradual and not rushed.
"Even though this is my third match since my injury, I want to take it slow, step by step. The important thing is to take care of my knee and my body every day. Take care of your heart, focus, and mind," he said.
