KUALA LUMPUR: Last year's finalist Lee Zii Jia has withdrawn from the Denmark Open due to an ankle injury.
The world No. 4 was scheduled to face Kenta Nishimoto in the first round as he sought to improve on his previous performance in Odense, where he reached the final.
"Zii Jia arrived in Odense on Sunday with plans to compete in the Denmark Open despite suffering an ankle injury at the Arctic Open," Team LZJ posted on X.
"He tested the courts today (Monday) but experienced discomfort in his ankle, which prevented him from playing at match-level intensity.
"With a heavy heart, Zii Jia has withdrawn from the Denmark Open."
The Denmark Open begins today.
Last week, Zii Jia's title defence at the Arctic Open in Finland ended when he lost to Japan's Koki Watanabe.