KUALA LUMPUR: National No. 1 S. Sivasangari was blown out of the US$250,000 Windy City Open in Chicago, United States, yesterday.
The Asian champion lost 11-7, 4-11, 8-11, 11-7, 6-11 to England's fifth seed Georgina Kennedy in the third round in 61 minutes.
With world No. 16 Sivasangari's exit, all Malaysian interest in the tournament ended.
National head coach Ajaz Azmat said: "The third set was a close battle and if Sivasangari had won the set, than things would have been different.
"However, Sivsangari is showing improvement and I'm sure she will play much better in her next tournament (in Cleveland, US, from March 5-10)."
But Ajaz said world No. 20 Ng Eain Yow, who was upset by world No. 53 Todd Harrity of the United States in the first round of the Windy City Open, needs to buck up.
"The defeat to a lower rung player is a wake-up call for Eain Yow."