KUALA LUMPUR – Independent men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia turned the tables against the man who handed him a thrashing just four days ago in the final of the Denmark Open.
The world number 11 barely broke a sweat against China’s Weng Hongyang in the first round of the French Open today.
On Sunday, China’s world number 19 outclassed Zii Jia, beating him 21-12, 21-6, in 33 minutes.
But today was a different story.
The 25-year-old gave Hongyang a taste of his own medicine, taking him out in straight sets 21-15, 21-11 in 45 minutes at the Glaz Arena in Rennes.
Right after the Denmark Open, Zii Jia hinted that he may skip the French Open due to fatigue but Hongyang had no reply to his energetic display and trademark powerful smashes.
Zii Jia will next play world number five and tournament eight seed Li Shi Feng of China in the second round.
Earlier, national mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei defeated Danish pair Mads Vestergaard 21-12, 21-15.
The country’s world number nine pair will clash against Reginald Lee-Ng Tsz Yau of Hong Kong in the second round.
Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai will accompany their compatriots into the second round after defeating Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang of Taiwan 21-9, 21-8.
The world number 14 pair will take on another Hong Kong duo Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet in the next round.
However, Malaysia’s campaign in the men’s doubles ended after Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun went down in three sets to Danish pair Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard 21-18, 18-21, 15-21.
Earlier, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik had conceded a walkover to Indonesian pair Leo Rolly Carnando-Daniel Marthin after withdrawing from the tournament.
Malaysia’s other men’s singles player Ng Tze Yong also advanced to the second round after defeating Mark Caljouw from the Netherlands 21-9, 21-9. – October 26, 2023