KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Zii Jia's hope for a dream start at the Malaysia Open went up in smoke, after crashing out in the first round, again.
World No.11 Zii Jia, who failed to clear the first hurdle in last year's edition, succumbed 16-21, 21-19, 21-15 to China's Lu Guang Zu at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil today.
The defeat was Zii Jia's second to the Chinese world No. 19 in six meetings.
Guang Zu will play Indonesia's Antony Sinisuka Ginting in the second round on Thursday.
Malaysia's men's singles hope now rests on world No. 15 Ng Tze Yong who will play Japan's Koki Watanabe on Wednesday.