KUALA LUMPUR: Women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah failed to reach their first World Tour semi-finals of the year after crashing out of the Indonesia Masters on Friday.
The world No. 13 were outclassed 21-16, 21-9 by China's Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning at Istora Senayan in Jakarta.
While the defeat wasn't entirely surprising, as they had been beaten by the same opponents during the Malaysia Open, it was the manner of the defeat that would surely leave the fans wondering whether Pearly-Thinaah have lost their competitiveness.
Pearly-Thinaah are certainly not the same pair as they were, having now completed their ninth event without getting past the quarter-finals.
In the opening three weeks of last year's World Tour, Pearly-Thinaah responded strongly to their first-round exit at the Malaysia Open by reaching the semi-finals of the India Open and Indonesia Masters.
In contrast, this time, Pearly-Thinaah lost in the opening round of the Malaysia Open and were knocked out in the last 16 at the India Open.
Malaysia's challenge in the mixed doubles competition ended with Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing's defeat.
Kian Meng-Pei Jing lost 18-21, 21-18, 21-13 to world No. 1 Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong for their ninth win over the Malaysians.