However, the mixed doubles pairing have certainly found their groove as they cantered to their third consecutive Open title and second OSIM BWF World Superseries crown when they won the Li Ning Singapore Open Superseries on Sunday.

Former world champion Liliyana, who took a month off last month after injuring her elbow, has been the guiding light in the partnership as she helped the less experienced Tantowi get used to living in the limelight.

They cruised to back-to-back titles by winning the Yonex Sunrise India Open Superseries on May 1 and followed that up by winning the Yonex Sunrise Malaysia Open Grand Prix gold a week later.

However, many doubted their capabilities as many top pairs gave those two tournaments a miss.

But they made their critics sit up and take notice when they stunned world No. 1s Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei of China 23-21, 21-16 in Saturday’s semi-finals.

On Sunday, they outplayed Taipei’s Chen Hung Ling-Cheng Wen Hsing 21-14, 27-25 to prove that they will be a force to be reckon with at the 2012 London Olympics.

Tantowi-Liliyana were the only non-Chinese winners in Singapore.

World champion Chen Jin ended his tournament drought when Olympic champion Lin Dan conceded a walkover in the men’s singles while Wang Xin defeated Denmark’s Tine Baun in the women’s final.

Three-time world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng outclassed perennial runners-up Alvent Yulianto Chandra-Hendra Aprida Gunawan of Indonesia 21-17, 21-13 to win the men’s doubles crown.

The championship was the Chinese duo’s nine OSIM BWF World Superseries crown – but first of the season – and 23rd overall while for the Indonesians, it was the seventh time they have reached a final and the seventh time they have come out second best.

The women’s doubles was also one-sided with fifth seeds Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei (right), thrashing sixth seeded South Koreans Ha Jung-Eun-Kim Min-Jung 21-13, 21-16.

For full results, click here.

Finals
Men
Singles: Chen Jin (China) bt Lin Dan (China) walkover.

Doubles: Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng (China) bt Alvent Yulianto Chandra-Hendra Aprida Gunawan (Indonesia) 21-17, 21-13.

Women
Singles: Wang Xin (China) bt Tine Baun (Denmark) 21-19, 21-17.

Doubles: Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei (China) bt Ha Jung-Eun-Kim Min-Jung (Korea) 21-13, 21-16.

Mixed doubles: Tantowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir (Indonesia) bt Chen Hung Ling-Cheng Wen Hsing (Taipei) 21-14, 27-25.