KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s men’s singles player, Lee Zii Jia, reflects on his journey to the Malaysia Masters final as a significant achievement, especially considering his previous struggles to progress beyond the early rounds.
Zii Jia admits he did not anticipate his straight-sets victory over Hong Kong’s Angus Ng, after facing a considerable deficit in the second set.
After 43 minutes of intense play, Zii Jia secured his place in the final with a convincing 21-15, 21-17 win, setting up a showdown with tournament favourite Viktor Axelsen tomorrow.
This marks Zii Jia’s second consecutive victory over Angus, following his triumph in the Thailand Open final last week.
“In the second set, I didn’t expect to turn things around. Even my coach, Wong Tat Meng, advised me to forget about the second set and focus on the third.
“However, I told myself to persevere and try to regain a few points. Surprisingly, the situation improved beyond my expectations.
“Reaching the final on home turf holds special significance for me. I’ve never advanced to the final in Kuala Lumpur before, making this accomplishment particularly meaningful. Therefore, I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s match,” said Zii Jia.
Despite being rushed to the National Sports Institute yesterday due to full-body cramps, Zii Jia reassured that he was in good physical shape for the final against Axelsen.
The final promises to be intense, considering their recent encounter at the Thomas Cup in Chengdu, China, where Axelsen emerged victorious.
“As long as I’m injury-free, I’ll give my all on the court. I haven’t thought too far ahead about tomorrow’s match; instead, I’ll focus on resting well, having a good meal and preparing mentally,” added Zii Jia.
The last Malaysian to clinch the men’s singles title at the Malaysia Masters was Datuk Lee Chong Wei in 2016. – May 25, 2024