KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Zii Jia's chances of winning his third World Tour title this season at the Japan Open have significantly improved following changes to the draw due to several seeded players withdrawing at the last minute.
Initially slated to face China's Weng Hong Yang in the first round, Zii Jia will now play against Frenchman Alex Lanier at Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa prefecture on Tuesday.
The 'Seed Withdrawal Move' (SWM), implemented in May, has moved sixth-seeded Zii Jia to fill the spot vacated by Thailand's fourth-seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn.
This change means Zii Jia avoids a potential clash with Singapore's Loh Kean Yew in the round of 16.
If all goes according to plan, Zii Jia will likely face Indonesia's Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo in the last 16 and either Hong Yang or Japan's Kenta Nishimoto in the quarter-finals.
A potential semi-final match against top seed Shi Yu Qi of China remains possible.
Fresh from his bronze medal performance at the Paris Olympics, Zii Jia hopes to maintain the momentum built during the World Tour events between May and June, where he won 16 out of 18 matches.
During that period, he reached three finals in four tournaments, winning the Thailand Open and Australian Open and finishing as runner-up at the Malaysia Masters.
The Japan Open, the first tournament after the Paris Olympics, has seen several high-profile withdrawals, including two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, Indonesia's Jonatan Christie, and China's Li Shi Feng — originally seeded second, fifth, and seventh, respectively.
Due to the SWM, Leong Jun Hao, the other Malaysian in contention, would now face eighth seed Kodai Naraoka in the last 16 if he advances, instead of his initial projected opponent, third seed Anders Antonsen.
The men's doubles draw has also undergone significant changes, involving three Malaysian pairs.
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani will now face Japan's Kazuki Shibata-Naoyuki Yamada, who were promoted from the reserves list.
Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun have been moved to the lower half of the draw, replacing fifth seeds He Ji Tin-Ren Xiang Yu of China and will face Taiwan's Lin Bing Wei-Su Ching Heng.
Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong will now play against Taiwan's Liu Kuang Heng-Yang Po Han, instead of Indonesian veterans Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan.
In addition to Zii Jia, other Malaysian players competing on Tuesday include Goh Jin Wei in women's singles, Sze Fei-Izzuddin, Hang Yee-Eng Cheong, and Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri in men's doubles, and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing in mixed doubles.