Malaysian men’s singles shuttler Justin Hoh saw his impressive campaign at the Australian Open 2026 come to an end after suffering a straight-games defeat to Indonesia’s rising star Moh Zaki Ubaidillah in the quarter-finals on Friday at Quaycentr Olympic Boulevard, Sydney.
Competing at the Quaycentre in Sydney, Justin was unable to find his rhythm against an inspired Ubaidillah, who secured a convincing 21-7, 21-13 victory in just 38 minutes to book his place in the semi-finals of the BWF World Tour Super 500 event.
Despite the disappointing result, Justin’s run to the last eight remains another valuable step in his development as he continues to gain experience against some of the region’s top emerging talents.
Justin entered the quarter-final knowing he faced a difficult task against the highly-rated Indonesian youngster, who has been one of the standout performers of the tournament.
The opening game quickly tilted in Ubaidillah’s favour. The Indonesian established control early by winning five consecutive points and raced into the mid-game interval with a commanding 11-3 advantage.
Justin struggled to disrupt his opponent’s momentum as Ubaidillah maintained a high level of consistency and precision throughout the rally exchanges. The Indonesian eventually wrapped up the first game comfortably, 21-7.
The Malaysian attempted to mount a stronger challenge in the second game, showing greater resilience and attacking intent.
However, Ubaidillah continued to dictate the pace of the match with disciplined shot selection and effective court coverage. While Justin managed to produce several positive rallies, he was unable to sustain pressure long enough to close the gap.
The Indonesian maintained his composure and sealed the second game 21-13, completing a straight-games victory and advancing to the semi-finals.
Although his Australian Open journey ended in the quarter-finals, the tournament provided another important learning experience for Justin as he continues his progression on the international circuit.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
