Lee Zii Jia Out of Canadian Open Semifinals After Three-Set Thriller

Malaysian singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia's bid for the Canadian Open final ended in the semifinals after a grueling three-set defeat to Japan's Riki Takei. The world No. 60 player succumbed to the 21-13, 18-21, 18-21 loss against the 20-year-old Japanese, ranked 74th, in a match lasting 1 hour and 10 minutes. This result evens their head-to-head record at 1-1, with Takei avenging his loss to Lee at the Australian Open last month.

Although disappointed by the outcome, Lee's performance in reaching the semifinals of the Super 300 tournament is considered his best achievement of the season. This marks a potential turning point for the 28-year-old, who has struggled with inconsistent form since returning from a lengthy injury layoff last year. The injury, affecting his back and leg, had previously hampered his performance, often leading to early exits in World Tour events.

The Canadian Open semifinal appearance provides a much-needed boost for Lee, offering a glimmer of hope as he aims to regain his previous form. The journey back from injury has been challenging, but this result suggests a positive trajectory for the former world No. 2 as he continues his comeback on the international circuit.