Lee Zii Jia displayed one of his finest performances this year to check into the Indonesia Masters quarter-finals after he packed away Angus Ng Ka Long 22-20, 21-15 at the Istora Senayan Arena on Thursday.
The Malaysian’s exquisite net game and his powerful smashes proved the catalyst of this 46-minute victory, and he will be especially pleased about edging that first game which proved crucial.
Lee had held match point but Ng pulled level to force deuce, and it could have gone either way.
But the world number 10 held his nerve to force the mistakes from his opponent for the lead.
Armed with that advantage, Lee looked far more comfortable in the second game where he dictated the play most times and found plenty of winners through his smashes.
He will now go on to face Priyanshu Rajawat or Brian Yang for a place in the semi-finals.
Mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing also came through after beating compatriots Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See in straight games 21-12, 21-16.
Tan-Lai have a tough task against top seeded pair Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong in the last eight.
Two other mixed doubles pairs Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei crashed out after losses to their Indonesian and South Korean opponents.
Leong Jun Hao lost in straight games to Anthony Ginting in the men's singles despite giving the Indonesian some anxious moments.
The Malaysian’s exquisite net game and his powerful smashes proved the catalyst of this 46-minute victory, and he will be especially pleased about edging that first game which proved crucial.
Lee had held match point but Ng pulled level to force deuce, and it could have gone either way.
But the world number 10 held his nerve to force the mistakes from his opponent for the lead.
Armed with that advantage, Lee looked far more comfortable in the second game where he dictated the play most times and found plenty of winners through his smashes.
He will now go on to face Priyanshu Rajawat or Brian Yang for a place in the semi-finals.
Mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing also came through after beating compatriots Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See in straight games 21-12, 21-16.
Tan-Lai have a tough task against top seeded pair Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong in the last eight.
Two other mixed doubles pairs Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei crashed out after losses to their Indonesian and South Korean opponents.
Leong Jun Hao lost in straight games to Anthony Ginting in the men's singles despite giving the Indonesian some anxious moments.
