Sixteen-year-old Mima Ito relinquished a 2-0 lead against 2014 and 2015 world junior champion Wang Manyu, bowing out of the Japan Open in the women's singles quarterfinals on Saturday.
Ito made a bright start, but threw away chances to sway the match and with it the chance to beat 18-year-old Wang, who defeated third seed Kasumi Ishikawa a day earlier in the first round and someone who Ito believes will become "a beast" in the years ahead.
"This one is tough to swallow after having come this far," Ito said. "She's someone who has a really bright future. If I don't beat her now, I won't have a shot in the future so I wanted to win. But I'm sure I'll have another chance."