Lee Zii Jia overcame Kodai Naraoka in an epic Australian Open men's singles champion to capture his second World Tour title this year on Sunday.
Giving everything he had against the second seeded Japanese, Lee secured the hard fought 21-19, 11-21, 21-18 victory after 78-minutes of action in Sydney.
His latest success comes on the back of his Thailand Open title last month, which he followed up by reaching the Malaysia Masters final a week later.
Lee's victory in this Super 500 event will also bump him up the world rankings and give him a better seeding at next month's Paris Olympics.
Finishing his final warm-up event before the Olympics as champion will give Lee the perfect tonic to launch his charge at the Paris spectacle, where he has already started his intent to bring home the gold medal.
The manner in which he recovered from a slow start to eventually see off the stiff challenge from Naraoka in the deciding game will also give the world number eight the confidence that he can deal with pressure cooker situations and come out tops.
Lai Pei Jing-Lim Chiew Sien did their best, but couldn't ensure Malaysia came home with two titles after they lost 21-12, 7-21, 13-21 against Indonesia's Febriana Dwipuji-Amallia Cahaya in the women's doubles final.
Henry Larsson
Sun Jun 16 2024
![Australian Open: Zii Jia champion after beating Naraoka Australian Open: Zii Jia champion after beating Naraoka](https://resizer-vortals.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://d3lbfr570u7hdr.cloudfront.net/stadiumastro/media/sa-images/2024/06-jun/16/lzj.jpg?ext=.jpg)
![Afghanistan win topsy-turvy Bangladesh clash to eliminate Australia from World Cup Afghanistan win topsy-turvy Bangladesh clash to eliminate Australia from World Cup](https://resizer-vortals.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://d3lbfr570u7hdr.cloudfront.net/stadiumastro/media/perform-article/2024/jun/25/afghanistan_gn14jk0v7ard1e5sczvyo22kc.jpg)
Afghanistan win topsy-turvy Bangladesh clash to eliminate Australia from World Cup
Afghanistan will face South Africa in the T20 World Cup semi-finals after beating Bangladesh in the Super 8s, eliminating Australia.
![Brazil 0-0 Costa Rica: Wasteful Selecao frustrated in Copa America opener Brazil 0-0 Costa Rica: Wasteful Selecao frustrated in Copa America opener](https://resizer-vortals.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://d3lbfr570u7hdr.cloudfront.net/stadiumastro/media/perform-article/2024/jun/25/rodrygo-brazil_on8ozldrcju213qxwr1r757ux.jpg)
Brazil 0-0 Costa Rica: Wasteful Selecao frustrated in Copa America opener
Brazil enjoyed 73.5% of possession and registered 19 shots on goal, but were left made to rue their wastefulness against Costa Rica.
!['He knows he has a whole country behind him' - Scaloni empathises as Messi spends birthday on road 'He knows he has a whole country behind him' - Scaloni empathises as Messi spends birthday on road](https://resizer-vortals.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://d3lbfr570u7hdr.cloudfront.net/stadiumastro/media/perform-article/2024/jun/25/lionel-messi-lionel-scaloni_q403stqpg5qf10w7qufupwsw8.jpg)
'He knows he has a whole country behind him' - Scaloni empathises as Messi spends birthday on road
Lionel Messi shared a picture on social media as he celebrated his 37th birthday with his Argentina team-mates ahead of facing Chile.
![Raducanu 'grateful' and 'excited' having 'rekindled the love for tennis' Raducanu 'grateful' and 'excited' having 'rekindled the love for tennis'](https://resizer-vortals.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://d3lbfr570u7hdr.cloudfront.net/stadiumastro/media/perform-article/2024/jun/25/emma-raducanu_2n14mkbjp92s1hojxt4bcq8it.jpg)
Raducanu 'grateful' and 'excited' having 'rekindled the love for tennis'
Raducanu 'rekindled' tennis passion
![France secure landmark qualification to Euro 2024 knockout stages France secure landmark qualification to Euro 2024 knockout stages](https://resizer-vortals.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://d3lbfr570u7hdr.cloudfront.net/stadiumastro/media/perform-article/2024/jun/25/france_r067hrlhkl2m182gxpxtocz3r.jpg)
France secure landmark qualification to Euro 2024 knockout stages
France through to Euro 2024 last 16
![Modric bemoans 'cruel' twist as Croatia star concedes he cannot go on forever Modric bemoans 'cruel' twist as Croatia star concedes he cannot go on forever](https://resizer-vortals.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://d3lbfr570u7hdr.cloudfront.net/stadiumastro/media/perform-article/2024/jun/25/luka-modric_1kakhny3s9ndt19ly2lm4d9e4k.jpg)
Modric bemoans 'cruel' twist as Croatia star concedes he cannot go on forever
Modric cannot play on forever
![Super sub Zaccagni and Italy eager 'to repay Spalletti' after sealing Euro 2024 progress Super sub Zaccagni and Italy eager 'to repay Spalletti' after sealing Euro 2024 progress](https://resizer-vortals.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://d3lbfr570u7hdr.cloudfront.net/stadiumastro/media/perform-article/2024/jun/25/mattia-zaccagni_1oynouadi1atf1vigp9wrjvvud.jpg)
Super sub Zaccagni and Italy eager 'to repay Spalletti' after sealing Euro 2024 progress
Zaccagni eager to repay Spalletti
![De la Fuente has got Spain 'excited', says matchwinner Torres De la Fuente has got Spain 'excited', says matchwinner Torres](https://resizer-vortals.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://d3lbfr570u7hdr.cloudfront.net/stadiumastro/media/perform-article/2024/jun/25/ferran-torres_bofkpj546ezm18q4zwce1w4vy.jpg)
De la Fuente has got Spain 'excited', says matchwinner Torres
De la Fuente has Spain 'excited'
![Euro 2024 data dive: Modric makes history as Italy leave it late and Spain stay perfect Euro 2024 data dive: Modric makes history as Italy leave it late and Spain stay perfect](https://resizer-vortals.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://d3lbfr570u7hdr.cloudfront.net/stadiumastro/media/perform-article/2024/jun/25/modric_1l8ooeyyywzt414zpzk1ke1nip.jpg)
Euro 2024 data dive: Modric makes history as Italy leave it late and Spain stay perfect
Euro 2024 data dive
![Hungary forward Varga undergoes successful surgery after worrying injury Hungary forward Varga undergoes successful surgery after worrying injury](https://resizer-vortals.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://d3lbfr570u7hdr.cloudfront.net/stadiumastro/media/perform-article/2024/jun/25/barnabas-varga_kgh3fiejvl5t1k76s4blfg1rb.jpg)
Hungary forward Varga undergoes successful surgery after worrying injury
Varga undergoes successful surgery