KUALA LUMPUR: Nicol David was sensationally knocked out of the China Open quarter-finals by a rising Egyptian youngster in Shanghai on Friday.
Just days after losing her World No 1 ranking to Egypt's Raneem El Weleily, Nicol lost 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 to unseeded Nouran Gohar.
Nicol downed Gohar in their only other prior meeting at the 2011 World Cup but the 17-year-old World No 13 showed much maturity to rally from a game down against the eight-time world champion.
The defeat was Nicol's fifth in six PSA Women's Tour tournaments this year with the Cleveland Classic her only title of 2015.
With Nicol's defeat, the tournament will have a non-Malaysian winner for the first time since 2010.
Low Wee Wern won the China Open three times in 2011, 2012 and 2014 while Nicol lifted the trophy in 2013.
Wee Wern did not defend her title as she continues her recuperation from knee surgery.
Nicol will next play at the Macau Open next week.