BIRMINGHAM: The All England was supposed to be Lee Zii Jia's happy hunting ground. Sadly, not anymore.
On Friday, the Malaysian World No. 10 was eliminated 22-20, 16-21, 19-21 by India's world No 18 Lakshya Sen.
Zii Jia, 25, had gone to Birmingham with the imposing record of having, at least, reaching the semi-finals consecutively in the past four years. And remarkably he was the champion in 2021.
Infamous for his first or second round shock exits in other tournaments, it was thought that Zii Jia somehow had that extra to excel in the All-England.
But this time, he was short on that element, especially in the rubber against Lakshya when both players were tied at 19-19.
If Zii Jia had been able to push home with that two more points, he would have improved on his imprssive All England record, and not spoilt it.
But then again Lakshya is no ordianry shuttler. In coming out on tops,
the Indian handed Zii Jia his s fourth defeat in their five meetings.
Nonethless, Zii Jia said he felt that there has been an improvement in his game.
"I''m disappointed that I couldn't win this match. I played well, but Lakshya was at his best.
"Although I didn't make it to the semi-finals, there has been an improvement in my game throughout this All-England tournament..
He should be. Zii Jia, after all, had the better of top players like Japan's Kodai Naraoka and Singapore's former world champion Loh Kean Yew in the earlier rounds.
This time, all the usual suspects have been smashed out. And the All England will see the crowning of a new men's singles champion.
Here is the unusual semi-final script: Indonesia's Anthony Sinisuka Ginting vs France's Christo Popov; India's Lakshya Sen vs Indonesia's Jonatan Christie.
All the four semi-finalists have a good chance of clinching the coveted title now that the big guns are out of contention.
The former winners, Denmark's feared Victor Axelsen, China's formidable Shi Yuqi and Zii Jia all fell by the wayside in Birmingham.
World No.1 Axelsen was shown the exit by Anthony who won 8-21, 21-18, 21-19; Shi Yuqi conceded to Jonatan, retiring in the second set after losing the first 21-12..
Former European junior champion Popov was the unlikeliest name in the semis lineup. He did it by upstaging Japan's Koki Watanabe 21-17, 21-10 in the quarter-finals.