Lee Zii Jia's wait for a breakthrough victory since returning from injury continues after the Malaysian crashed out in the opening round of the Macau Open on Tuesday.
The former All England champion was beaten 21-12, 22-20 by Indonesia's Prahdiska Bagas Shujiwo in a disappointing first-round encounter. Despite receiving a potentially favorable path following the withdrawal of the tournament's third seed, Lee was unable to take advantage and exited at the first hurdle once again.
Currently ranked world No. 64, Lee struggled to settle into the match from the start. Bagas Shujiwo, ranked No. 43 in the world, took control early and dominated the opening game, putting the Malaysian under immediate pressure.
Lee showed signs of improvement in the second game and produced a much stronger response. He fought his way back into contention and pushed the Indonesian to a tense 20-20 deadlock. However, Bagas Shujiwo held firm in the closing stages, winning the final two points to complete a straight-games victory.
The defeat extends a frustrating run for Lee since his return from injury. He has now suffered first-round exits at the Swiss Open, Thailand Open, Australian Open and Macau Open, leaving him still searching for his first main-draw win during his comeback campaign.
While there have been flashes of the quality that once made him one of the world's most feared players, consistency has remained elusive. The repeated early exits have highlighted the challenges of returning to top-level competition after a lengthy absence, with both match sharpness and confidence still works in progress.
For Lee, the focus will now shift to rebuilding momentum and finding a way to turn competitive performances into victories. The 28-year-old remains one of Malaysia's most talented players, but his latest setback underlines the scale of the task ahead as he attempts to regain the form that previously carried him to major titles.
As the season progresses, Malaysian fans will be hoping that a breakthrough result is not far away. For now, however, Lee's search for rhythm and confidence continues.
