KUALA LUMPUR: It was not a heartbreak but a disappointment.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik's defeat in the China Open final on Sunday was simply poor and painful to watch.
Having played superbly throughout the week in Changzhou, the Malaysian former world champions bowed out with a whimper, losing tamely 21-12, 21-14 to China's world No. 3 men's doubles pair, Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang.
It was Aaron-Wooi Yik's second time missing out on a Super 1000 title this year and fourth overall in the World Tour.
It's particularly baffling given their previous successes at the Olympics and World Championships, making it difficult to believe that the world No. 6 have yet to capture a World Tour title.
Their performance in the final was so shockingly bad that Aaron-Wooi Yik only had themselves to blame.
"We didn't lose to anyone today but ourselves," Aaron said in the post-match interview.
"Apart from the final, we played well in this tournament, but today we were just out of sorts.
"We couldn't get into the game and ended up making too many unforced errors.
"It's disappointing that we are still waiting for our first World Tour title, but we continue to believe that time will come.
"Today was just not it," added Aaron.
The defeat to Wei Keng-Wang Chang was Aaron-Wooi Yik's fifth in six meetings.
Aaron-Wooi Yik will get a chance to redeem themselves when they compete in the Super 500 Hong Kong Open next week.
After that, their focus will shift entirely to the Hangzhou Asian Games on Sept 23-Oct 8.
In the Hong Kong Open, Aaron-Wooi Yik will play compatriots Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in the opening round.