PETALING JAYA: Top seed S. Sivasangari lamented her missed opportunity in the Malaysia Cup final today, admitting it simply wasn't her day.
World No. 9 Sivasangari had been tipped to secure a double celebration for Malaysia following Ng Eain Yow's triumph in the men's final.
However, she fell short against Egypt's 17-year-old sensation, Amina Orfi, losing 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6 in a gruelling 88-minute showdown at Curve Mall here today.
The 26-year-old said she was disappointed not to win her second PSA Tour title this year.
"Both of us fought hard, but unfortunately, it just wasn't my day," said Sivasangari, who has now suffered two defeats against Amina.
On her performance, Sivasangari admitted key moments in the second and third games cost her the match.
"I was leading 9-6 in the second game but let it slip away. In the third, I thought I had won the game point, but the referee awarded a stroke to Amina. That decision broke my momentum," she explained.
Sivasangari rallied to take the fourth game but couldn't withstand Amina's brilliance in the decisive fifth.
"I regained some confidence in the fourth, but Amina was simply too good in the final game," she added.
Despite the setback, Sivasangari is determined to bounce back at the Singapore Open next week.
Meanwhile, Amina credited her success to capitalising on the pressure her opponent faced.
"Sivasangari is a world-class player who has beaten top stars like world No. 1 Nour El Sherbini. I knew she would feel the weight of being the top seed, and I used that to my advantage," said the Egyptian teenager.
"I'm delighted to beat such a strong player and claim my first title of the year."