KUALA LUMPUR: The French Open jinx continues to haunt world No. 2 Lee Zii Jia who crashed out in the first round today.
Despite claiming to have regained his form of old after reaching the Denmark Open final on Sunday, the 24-year-old fell in straight games, 21-19, 21-18, to Indonesia's Shesar Hiren Rhustavito.
Since making his debut in the 2019 edition, Zii Jia has never cleared the French Open opening round in Paris.
It was also Zii Jia's second straight defeat to the world No. 24 Indonesian, who had also prevailed over the Malaysian in the second round of the Malaysia Open in June.
Shesar, who is on a comeback trail after suffering from a calf injury more than three months ago, now has five wins over Zii Jia in nine meetings.
Shesar, 28, will face Japan's Kodai Naraoka in the second round tomorrow.
As for Zii Jia, his next assignment will be the Hylo Open in Germany on Nov 1-6.