Malaysia's women's singles challenge at the Korea Open produced contrasting results in the opening round in Yeosu, South Korea, with K Letshanaa progressing and Wong Ling Ching heading home early.
According to Free Malaysia Today, world No 28 Letshanaa needed 47 minutes to get past Thailand's Tonrug Saehong, who is ranked 64th, winning 21-17, 21-18 at the World Tour Super 500 event.
The scoreline suggests a comfortable outing, but the Malaysian was pushed in both games before sealing her place in the second round.
Wong Ling Ching was less fortunate. The world No 41 went down 17-21, 23-21, 20-22 to Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan, who is ranked 62nd, in a contest that stretched to 70 minutes.
The defeat was a particularly painful one for Ling Ching, as Free Malaysia Today reported that she had two match points in the deciding game but was unable to convert either of them against her lower-ranked opponent.
Having levelled the match by edging a tight second game, she was within touching distance of victory before the decider slipped away.
Letshanaa now faces a daunting assignment in the next round. She will take on South Korea's An Se Young, the top-ranked women's singles player in the world.
The head-to-head record offers little encouragement for the Malaysian, with An Se Young having won all four of their previous meetings.
The match will give Letshanaa a chance to test herself against the world's best on home soil for her opponent, as she looks to build on her first-round win in Yeosu.