Lin Dan, Yamaguchi crash out, Momota storms into last 16 at badminton worlds
BASEL, Switzerland -- Five-time champion Lin Dan and women's top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan were both upset in the second round of the World Championships here on Tuesday.
Yamaguchi, who won the bronze in last year's edition, slumped to a 21-14, 21-18 defeat to the 20-year-old Yeo in just 40 minutes.
"I could not get into my rhythm. I was surprised by the opponent and got lured into her style of playing," said Yamaguchi, who became the first Japanese to win the Asian Championships women's singles title last April.
"I was not in peak condition and I did not reach some parts of the court as fast as I usually do."
The 22-year-old became the second big name on the day to make early exits following China's Lin, who was stunned by India's 30th-ranked H.S. Prannoy 21-11, 13-21, 21-7.
It was Lin's earliest exit in his 12 appearances at the World Championships. He was defeated twice previously in the third round -- in 2003 when he played for the first time at the age of 19 and last year in Guangzhou, south China.
"I don't have enough energy in today's match, especially in the first set," he said. "I played better in the second but in the third I just ran out of energy."