Lee Zii Jia: I Must Accept This Defeat; Shi Yuqis Experience Prevails

Jayce September 6, 2024 2 0

On October 23, Malaysian media reported that Lee Zii Jia was defeated by China’s Shi Yuqi in the men’s singles final at the Denmark Open, missing out on the championship. After the match, Lee accepted the loss and looked forward to competing in the upcoming French Open.

Lee Zii Jia

As the fourth seed in the Denmark Open, Lee Zii Jia fought a grueling 64-minute battle in the men’s singles final, ultimately losing to Shi Yuqi 18-21, 21-16, 12-21. This marks the 10th consecutive year that a Malaysian men’s singles player has failed to win the Denmark Open title. The last Malaysian to claim the men’s singles championship at the Denmark Open was Lee Chong Wei in 2012. This defeat is also the third time Lee Zii Jia has lost to Shi Yuqi in his career.

Post-Match Reflection

Reflecting on his performance, Lee Zii Jia said: “I gave my best effort and did everything I could in the match. I must accept this defeat and stay focused on the upcoming French Open.”

Lee also mentioned that he struggled to move Shi Yuqi around the court. Both players experienced fatigue in the latter stages of the match, but Shi Yuqi’s greater experience allowed him to handle the situation better.

Key Factors in the Loss

Commenting on the crucial moments of the match, Lee Zii Jia noted: “I failed to maintain my concentration at the start of the third game, and after the 11-point change of ends, Shi Yuqi launched a series of successful attacks.”

Moving Forward

In summary, Lee Zii Jia remarked: “Overall, this is a good restart for me. I hope to maintain my performance and form in the upcoming two tournaments (the French Open and the German Hylo Open).”

Although he missed out on his third title of the year, Lee Zii Jia’s runner-up finish at the Denmark Open will see his world ranking rise to a career-high second place.