Ding Junhui refused to say much with sleepy eyes and a straight face after the first round exit at the ongoing China Open in Beijing that marked his worst result at the tournament and his third earliest exit this year.

China's Ding Junhui reacts during the 2007 World Snooker China Open in the first round game against Barry Hawkins March 29 in Beijing. [Xinhua]

The Chinese prodigy, who will turn 20 on Sunday when the final of his home tournament takes place, clinched his breakthrough title in Beijing two years ago and reached the last four in 2006 but produced a rash of errors to succumb wildcard Barry Hawkins 5-3 Wednesday night.

It was not a prime time since year beginning for the "China Ding", who is tipped as a future world number one by many of his rivals and snooker fans. He suffered a wild onslaught by "Rockets" Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Masters final and then saddled first round exits at two Opens earlier this year.

With just one month away to his first appearance at the World Snooker Championships final in the Crucible Theater, is Ding at low ebb now?

"Clearly, Ding was under pressure," said Hawkins, who dispatched Ding at last year's Championships qualification.

"I should have lost the game much earlier" was Ding's comment on himself.

Being at home court against Harkins, Ding was billed to revenge the English by his countrymen.

"I'm tired," said the teenager, fresh from three-month overseas competitions and kept busy with a host of engagements, told the press.

Though having not reached the realm of NBA star Yao Ming and hurdles sensation Liu Xiang, Ding has already drawn much attention home and abroad as a regarded future world number one.

Ren Hao, a friend of Ding said after Ding's exits that the biggest rival of Ding was himself and he was unable to display his skills under such great pressure.