Ng Tze Yong turned the tables on Loh Kean Yew with a straight-game victory in the Japan Open first round, while Lee Zii Jia crashed out early yet again.

Ng avenged last week’s Korea Open loss to Loh with a 21-16, 21-17 success in Tokyo, courtesy of a more convincing performance tto send the former world champion packing.

“I was braver this time around. Overall I played okay, but I did still miss some points,” said the now world number 21, who face Japan’s Koki Watanabe next.

Meanwhile, Lee crashed out in the opening round for the second consecutive week, this time after suffering a 22-20, 17-21, 19-21 defeat against Kenta Nishimoto.

A meek failed return serve summed up another miserable outing for Lee, who was up against a defensively solid Nishimoto who found an answer to almost all his smashes.

But crashing out early yet again is bound to dent the confidence of the lanky shuttler, who suffered three consecutive opening-round losses.

In the men’s doubles, US Open champions Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin looked a well-rested pair after they buried home pair Ayato Endo-Yuta Takei 21-18, 21-15 for a meeting against eighth seeds Liu Yu Chen-Ou Xuan Yi next.

Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik also came through after their opponents M. R. Arjun-Dhruv Kapila conceded a walkover in the first game as the Malaysians held a 15-5 lead.

Chia-Soh next face Indonesia’s Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana, who beat Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in three tough games.

The rest of the Malaysian shuttlers in action on Wednesday all crashed out, including Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, Cheam June Wei, Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai and Goh Jin Wei.