Malaysia Masters 2026: Why Did Lee Zii Jia Skip Home Event for US Open?

Malaysia Masters 2026: Malaysian professional singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has ditched the Malaysian Masters to compete at the United States Open. The development was confirmed by the United States Embassy in Kuala Lumpur through a post on its official Facebook page after hosting Zii Jia and his team ahead of their departure to Los Angeles.

"From Kuala Lumpur to Los Angeles. We were delighted to welcome Zii Jia and his team to the US Embassy today as they prepare for their tournament in Los Angeles," the embassy said in the statement.

The upcoming US Open could see Zii Jia start preparations for the forthcoming Olympics in Los Angeles, which is the host city for the Olympic Games 2028 (LA28). Earlier, he had declined a late opportunity to feature in the Malaysia Masters in the qualifying rounds.

But the million-dollar question is what transpired that led to the former world no.1 from Malaysia to withdraw from this prestigious tournament?

Why Did Lee Zii Jia Withdraw From Malaysia Masters?

Malaysian badminton star Lee Zii Jia opted out of the ongoing Malaysia Masters despite a late opportunity to enter the qualifying draw. Following withdrawals from top players like Shi Yuqi and Anders Antonsen, Zii Jia was offered a spot but chose to skip his home tournament.

The decision reflects a cautious approach to rebuilding his fitness and form after a difficult period marked by injuries, including an ankle ligament tear and persistent back issues. His ranking has slipped to World No. 67 due to limited match play, forcing him into qualifiers.

Instead, Zii Jia is focusing on the upcoming US Open in California, aiming for a smoother return, valuable ranking points, and consistent match practice as he works his way back to peak form.

Last week, he continued his comeback campaign at the Thailand Open, where he began from the qualifying rounds before suffering a first-round defeat in the main draw to Israeli player Daniil Dubovenko.