Glasgow’s Imogen Bankier and Edinburgh-born Robert Blair have received a bundle of good news on the brink of their first ever World upper Series Finals in Malaysia.

The world No.8 pair are facing a bumper pay-out since  – for the first time in the sport’s history – the doubles prize money exceeds the amount on offer to the singles players. 

The winners of the mixed title will receive £28,000 - £14,000 each – and that is £1,500 more than the singles champions.

The second boost is that the Chinese players have withdrawn from the event starting in Shabah on December 18. It means that Bankier and Blair will be among the top six couples. 

After just 18 months as an on-court couple, it has been a remarkable rise for the two Britons and bodes exceptionally well for the next few years leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.