KUALA LUMPUR: The way things are going, Lee Zii Jia doesn't look like he's going to be back in the groove any time soon.
The world No 4 suffered yet another early exit, this time at the German Open, when he was stunned by world No 49 Lee Chia Hao of Taiwan 15-21, 22-20, 23-21 today.
The defeat was one of Zii Jia's worst in recent years.
The last time he lost to a player outside the world's top 30 was to Thailand's Suppanyu Avihingsanon in the first round of the Malaysia Open in 2019.
Zii Jia has also now failed to get past the last 16 for six successive tournaments, a rather uncharacteristic record for a player of his stature.
Zii Jia only has himself to blame for the defeat to Chia Hao, who is only the fourth highest-ranked Taiwanese.
Being 20-16 up in the second game, Zii Jia shockingly squandered the next points for Chia Hao to drag the match into the decider.
A seemingly demoralised Zii Jia was playing catch-up for the most part of the third game, as Chia Hao raced into a comfortable 19-14 lead.
But Zii Jia showed fighting spirit too, winning six of the seven rallies and saving three match points in the process to draw level at 20-20.
Zii Jia had the chance to wrap up the match once more when he reached the match point at 21-20, but it was Chia Hao who had the last laugh by taking the next three points to mark one of his biggest career wins.
Zii Jia was so upset with himself that he took to his social media to vent his frustration with an F-word.
While Zii Jia bit the dust, there was some positive news from the mixed doubles department as Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei booked their place in the last eight by overcoming former world No 5 Seo Seung Jae-Chae Yu Jung 21-11, 24-22.
World No 43 Tang Jie-Ee Wei will take on another Korean pair, Kim Won Ho-Jeong Na Eun as they bid to reach their first World Tour semi-finals since being paired up last November.
In women's singles, Goh Jin Wei found Pornpawee Chochuwong too hot to handle as she went down 21-13, 21-10.
It was Jin Wei's sixth straight defeat to the world No 11 Thai.